Роздуми
Book 1
ThatherespectedtraditionwithoutneedingtoconstantlycongratulatehimselfforSafeguardingOurTraditionalValues.
Notpronetogooffontangents,orpulledinalldirections,butstickingwiththesameoldplacesandthesameoldthings.
Thewayhecouldhaveoneofhismigrainesandthengorightbacktowhathewasdoing—freshandatthetopofhisgame.
Thathehadsofewsecrets—onlystatesecrets,infact,andnotallthatmanyofthose.
Thewayhekeptpublicactionswithinreasonablebounds—games,buildingprojects,distributionsofmoneyandsoon—becausehelookedtowhatneededdoingandnotthecredittobegainedfromdoingit.
Nobathingatstrangehours,noself-indulgentbuildingprojects,noconcernforfood,orthecutandcolorofhisclothes,orhavingattractiveslaves.(TherobefromhisfarmatLorium,mostofthethingsatLanuvium,thewayheacceptedthecustomsagent’sapologyatTusculum,etc.)
Heneverexhibitedrudeness,lostcontrolofhimself,orturnedviolent.Nooneeversawhimsweat.Everythingwastobeapproachedlogicallyandwithdueconsideration,inacalmandorderlyfashionbutdecisively,andwithnolooseends.
Youcouldhavesaidofhim(astheysayofSocrates)thatheknewhowtoenjoyandabstainfromthingsthatmostpeoplefindithardtoabstainfromandalltooeasytoenjoy.
