[A] Antoninus here uses the word [Greek:  kosmos] both in the
    sense of the Universe and of Order; and it is difficult to
    express his meaning.

28.  A black character, a womanish character, a stubborn character, bestial, childish, animal, stupid, counterfeit, scurrilous, fraudulent, tyrannical.

29.  If he is a stranger to the universe who does not know what is in it, no less is he a stranger who does not know what is going on in it.  He is a runaway, who flies from social reason; he is blind, who shuts the eyes of understanding; he is poor, who has need of another, and has not from himself all things which are useful for life.  He is an abscess on the universe who withdraws and separates himself from the reason of our common nature through being displeased with the things which happen, for the same nature produces this, and has produced thee too:  he is a piece rent asunder from the state, who tears, his own soul from that of reasonable animals, which is one.

30.  The one is a philosopher without a tunic, and the other without a book:  here is another half naked:  Bread I have not, he says, and I abide by reason—­and I do not get the means of living out of my learning, + and I abide [by my reason].

31.  Love the art, poor as it may be, which thou hast learned, and be content with it; and pass through the rest of life like one who has intrusted to the gods with his whole soul all that he has, making thyself neither the tyrant nor the slave of any man.

32.  Consider, for example, the times of Vespasian.  Thou wilt see all these things, people marrying, bringing up children, sick, dying, warring, feasting, trafficking, cultivating the ground, flattering, obstinately arrogant, suspecting, plotting, wishing for some to die, grumbling about the present, loving, heaping up treasure, desiring consulship, kingly power.  Well, then, that life of these people no longer exists at all.  Again, remove to the times of Trajan.  Again, all is the same.  Their life too is gone.  In like manner view also the other epochs of time and of whole nations, and see how many after great efforts soon fell and were resolved into the elements.  But chiefly thou shouldst think of those whom thou hast thyself known distracting themselves about idle things, neglecting to do what was in accordance with their proper constitution, and to hold firmly to this and to be content with it.  And herein it is necessary to remember that the attention given to everything has its proper value and proportion.  For thus thou wilt not be dissatisfied, if thou appliest thyself to smaller matters no further than is fit.