Роздуми

           ArePantheiaorPergamosstillkeepingwatchatthetombofVerus?ChabriasorDiotimusatthetombofHadrian?Ofcoursetheyaren’t.Wouldtheemperorsknowitiftheywere?

           Andeveniftheyknew,woulditpleasethem?

           Andevenifitdid,wouldthemournersliveforever?Werethey,too,notfatedtogrowoldandthendie?Andwhenthathappened,whatwouldtheemperorsdo?

           38.Thestenchofdecay.Rottingmeatinabag.

           Lookatitclearly.Ifyoucan.

           39."Tothebestofmyjudgment,whenIlookatthehumancharacterIseenovirtueplacedtheretocounterjustice.ButIseeonetocounterpleasure:self-control."

           40.Stopperceivingthepainyouimagineandyou’llremaincompletelyunaffected.

           —"You?"

           Yourlogos.

           —ButI’mnotjustlogos.

           Fine.Justdon’tletthelogosbeinjured.Ifanythingelseis,letitdecidethatforitself.

           41.Foranimatebeings,"harmful"iswhateverobstructstheoperationoftheirsenses—orthefulfillmentofwhattheyintend.Similarobstructionsconstituteharmtoplants.Sotooforrationalcreatures,anythingthatobstructstheoperationofthemindisharmful.

           Applythistoyourself.

           Dopainandpleasurehavetheirhooksinyou?Letthesensesdealwithit.