Роздуми
Book 5
Amerename,atmost—andeventhatisjustasound,anecho.Thethingswewantinlifeareempty,stale,andtrivial.Dogssnarlingateachother.Quarrelingchildren—laughingandthenburstingintotearsamomentlater.Trust,shame,justice,truth—"gonefromtheearthandonlyfoundinheaven."
Whyareyoustillhere?Sensoryobjectsareshiftingandunstable;oursensesdimandeasilydeceived;thesoulitselfadecoctionoftheblood;fameinaworldlikethisisworthless.
—Andso?
Waitforitpatiently—annihilationormetamorphosis.
—Anduntilthattimecomes—what?
Honorandreverethegods,treathumanbeingsastheydeserve,betolerantwithothersandstrictwithyourself.Remember,nothingbelongstoyoubutyourfleshandblood—andnothingelseisunderyourcontrol.
34.Youcanleadanuntroubledlifeprovidedyoucangrow,canthinkandactsystematically.
Twocharacteristicssharedbygodsandmen(andeveryrationalcreature):
I.Nottoletothersholdyouback.
II.Tolocategoodnessinthinkinganddoingtherightthing,andtolimityourdesirestothat.
35.If:
•thisevilisnotofmydoing,
•northeresultofit,
•andthecommunityisnotendangered,whyshoulditbotherme?
Where’sthedangerforthecommunity?
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