26.  Thou hast endured infinite troubles through not being contented with thy ruling faculty when it does the things which it is constituted by nature to do.  But enough + [of this].

27.  When another blames thee or hates thee, or when men say about thee anything injurious, approach their poor souls, penetrate within, and see what kind of men they are.  Thou wilt discover that there is no reason to take any trouble that these men may have this or that opinion about thee.  However, thou must be well disposed towards them, for by nature they are friends.  And the gods too aid them in all ways, by dreams, by signs, towards the attainment of those things on which they set a value.+

28.  The periodic movements of the universe are the same, up and down from age to age.  And either the universal intelligence puts itself in motion for every separate effect, and if this is so, be thou content with that which is the result of its activity; or it puts itself in motion once, and everything else comes by way of sequence[A] in a manner; or indivisible elements are the origin of all things.—­In a word, if there is a god, all is well; and if chance rules, do not thou also be governed by it (vi. 44; vii. 75).

    [A] The words which immediately follow [Greek:  kat’
    epakolouthesin] are corrupt.  But the meaning is hardly
    doubtful. (Compare vii. 75.)

Soon will the earth cover us all:  then the earth, too, will change, and the things also which result from change will continue to change forever, and these again forever.  For if a man reflects on the changes and transformations which follow one another like wave after wave and their rapidity, he will despise everything which is perishable (xii. 21).

29.  The universal cause is like a winter torrent:  it carries everything along with it.  But how worthless are all these poor people who are engaged in matters political, and, as they suppose, are playing the philosopher!  All drivellers.  Well then, man:  do what nature now requires.  Set thyself in motion, if it is in thy power, and do not look about thee to see if any one will observe it; nor yet expect Plato’s Republic:[A] but be content if the smallest thing goes on well, and consider such an event to be no small matter.  For who can change men’s opinions? and without a change of opinions what else is there than the slavery of men who groan while they pretend to obey?  Come now and tell me of Alexander and Philippus and Demetrius of Phalerum.  They themselves shall judge whether they discovered what the common nature required, and trained themselves accordingly.  But if they acted like tragedy heroes, no one has condemned me to imitate them.  Simple and modest is the work of philosophy.  Draw me not aside to insolence and pride.

    [A] Those who wish to know what Plato’s Republic is may now
    study it in the accurate translation of Davies and Vaughan.