27.  Constantly consider how all things such as they now are, in time past also were; and consider that they will be the same again.  And place before thy eyes entire dramas and stages of the same form, whatever thou hast learned from thy experience or from older history; for example, the whole court of Hadrianus, and the whole court of Antoninus, and the whole court of Philippus, Alexander, Croesus; for all those were such dramas as we see now, only with different actors.

28.  Imagine every man who is grieved at anything or discontented to be like a pig which is sacrificed and kicks and screams.

Like this pig also is he who on his bed in silence laments the bonds in which we are held.  And consider that only to the rational animal is it given to follow voluntarily what happens; but simply to follow is a necessity imposed on all.

29.  Severally on the occasion of everything that thou dost, pause and ask thyself if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives thee of this.

30.  When thou art offended at any man’s fault, forthwith turn to thyself and reflect in what like manner thou dost err thyself; for example, in thinking that money is a good thing, or pleasure, or a bit of reputation, and the like.  For by attending to this thou wilt quickly forget thy anger, if this consideration also is added, that the man is compelled:  for what else could he do? or, if thou art able, take away from him the compulsion.

31.  When thou hast seen Satyron[A] the Socratic,+ think of either Eutyches or Hymen, and when thou hast seen Euphrates, think of Eutychion or Silvanus, and when thou hast seen Alciphron think of Tropaeophorus, and when thou hast seen Xenophon, think of Crito[B] or Severus, and when thou hast looked on thyself, think of any other Caesar, and in the case of every one do in like manner.  Then let this thought be in thy mind, Where then are those men?  Nowhere, or nobody knows where.  For thus continuously thou wilt look at human things as smoke and nothing at all; especially if thou reflectest at the same time that what has once changed will never exist again in the infinite duration of time.  But thou, in what a brief space of time is thy existence?  And why art thou not content to pass through this short time in an orderly way?  What matter and opportunity [for thy activity] art thou avoiding?  For what else are all these things, except exercises for the reason, when it has viewed carefully and by examination into their nature the things which happen in life?  Persevere then until thou shalt have made these things thy own, as the stomach which is strengthened makes all things its own, as the blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.

32.  Let it not be in any man’s power to say truly of thee that thou are not simple or that thou art not good; but let him be a liar whoever shall think anything of this kind about thee; and this is altogether in thy power.  For who is he that shall hinder thee from being good and simple?  Do thou only determine to live no longer unless thou shalt be such.  For neither does reason allow [thee to live], if thou art not such.[C]