this is, and what kind of use everything performs in it, and what value everything has with reference to the whole, and what with reference to man, who is a citizen of the highest city, of which all other cities are like families; what each thing is, and of what it is composed, and how long it is the nature of this thing to endure which now makes an impression on me, and what virtue I have need of with respect to it, such as gentleness, manliness, truth, fidelity, simplicity, contentment, and the rest.  Wherefore, on every occasion a man should say:  This comes from god; and this is according to the apportionment + and spinning of the thread of destiny, and such-like coincidence and chance; and this is from one of the same stock, and a kinsman and partner, one who knows not, however, what is according to his nature.  But I know; for this reason I behave towards him according to the natural law of fellowship with benevolence and justice.  At the same time, however, in things indifferent[A] I attempt to ascertain the value of each.

    [A] Est et horum quae media appellamus grande
    discrimen.—­Seneca, Ep. 82.

12.  If thou workest at that which is before thee, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract thee, but keeping thy divine part pure, as if thou shouldst be bound to give it back immediately; if thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to nature, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which thou utterest, thou wilt live happy.  And there is no man who is able to prevent this.

13.  As physicians have always their instruments and knives ready for cases which suddenly require their skill, so do thou have principles ready for the understanding of things divine and human, and for doing everything, even the smallest, with a recollection of the bond which unites the divine and human to one another.  For neither wilt thou do anything well which pertains to man without at the same time having a reference to things divine; nor the contrary.

14.  No longer wander at hazard; for neither wilt thou read thy own memoirs,[A] nor the acts of the ancient Romans and Hellenes, and the selections from books which thou wast reserving for thy old age.[B] Hasten then to the end which thou hast before thee, and, throwing away idle hopes, come to thy own aid, if thou carest at all for thyself, while it is in thy power.

    [A] [Greek:  hypomnemata]:  or memoranda, notes, and the like. 
    See i. 17.

[B] Compare Fronto, ii. 9; a letter of Marcus to Fronto, who was then consul:  “Feci tamen mihi per hos dies excerpta ex libris sexaginta in quinque tomis.”  But he says some of them were small books.

15.  They know not how many things are signified by the words stealing, sowing, buying, keeping quiet, seeing what ought to be done; for this is not effected by the eyes, but by another kind of vision.