Роздуми
Book 6
Prideisamasterofdeception:whenyouthinkyou’reoccupiedintheweightiestbusiness,that’swhenhehasyouinhisspell.
(CompareCratesonXenocrates.)
14.Thingsordinarypeopleareimpressedbyfallintothecategoriesofthingsthatareheldtogetherbysimplephysics(likestonesorwood),orbynaturalgrowth(figs,vines,olives...).Thoseadmiredbymoreadvancedmindsareheldtogetherbyalivingsoul(flocksofsheep,herdsofcows).Stillmoresophisticatedpeopleadmirewhatisguidedbyarationalmind—nottheuniversalmind,butoneadmiredforitstechnicalknowledge,orforsomeotherskill—orjustbecauseithappenstoownalotofslaves.
Butthosewhoreverethatothermind—theoneweallshare,ashumansandascitizens—aren’tinterestedinotherthings.Theirfocusisonthestateoftheirownminds—toavoidallselfishnessandillogic,andtoworkwithotherstoachievethatgoal.
15.Somethingsarerushingintoexistence,othersoutofit.Someofwhatnowexistsisalreadygone.Changeandfluxconstantlyremaketheworld,justastheincessantprogressionoftimeremakeseternity.
Wefindourselvesinariver.Whichofthethingsaroundusshouldwevaluewhennoneofthemcanofferafirmfoothold?
Likeanattachmenttoasparrow:weglimpseitandit’sgone.
Andlifeitself:likethedecoctionofblood,thedrawinginofair.
