Роздуми

           Andiftheymakenodecisions,aboutanything—andit’sblasphemouseventothinkso(becauseifso,thenlet’sstopsacrificing,praying,swearingoaths,anddoingalltheotherthingswedo,believingthewholetimethatthegodsarerightherewithus)—iftheydecidenothingaboutourlives...well,Icanstillmakedecisions.Canstillconsiderwhatit’stomybenefittodo.Andwhatbenefitsanyoneistodowhathisownnaturerequires.Andmineisrational.Rationalandcivic.

           MycityandstateareRome—asAntoninus.Butasahumanbeing?Theworld.Soforme,"good"canonlymeanwhat’sgoodforbothcommunities.

           45.Whateverhappenstoyouisforthegoodoftheworld.Thatwouldbeenoughrightthere.Butifyoulookcloselyyou’llgenerallynoticesomethingelseaswell:whateverhappenstoasinglepersonisforthegoodofothers.(Goodintheordinarysense—astheworlddefinesit.)

           46.Justasthearenaandtheotherspectacleswearyyou—you’veseenthemallbefore—andtherepetitiongratesonyournerves,sotoowithlife.Thesamethings,thesamecauses,onallsides.

           Howmuchlonger?

           47.Keepthisconstantlyinmind:thatallsortsofpeoplehavedied—allprofessions,allnationalities.FollowthethoughtallthewaydowntoPhilistion,Phoebus,andOriganion.Nowextendittootherspecies.

           Wehavetogotheretoo,whereallofthemhavealreadygone:

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