XXVll Have this thought ever present with thee, when thou losest any outward thing, what thou gainest in its stead; and if this be the more precious, say not, I have suffered loss.
Xlll But God hath introduced Man to be a spectator of himself and of His works; and not a spectator only, but also an interpreter of them. Wherefore it is a shame for man to begin and to leave off where the brutes do.
Rather he should begin there, and leave off where Nature leaves off in us: and that is a contemplation, and understanding, and a manner of life that is in harmany with herself. See then that ye die not without being spectators of these things.
XXXl You are impatient and hard to please. If alone, you call it solitude: if in the company of men, you dub them conspirators and thieves, and find fault with your very parents, children, brothers, and neighbours. Whereas when by yourself you should have called it Traquillity and Freedom: and herein deemed yourself like unto the Gods. And when in the company of the
many, you should not have called it a wearisome crowd and a tumult, but an assembly and a tribunal; and thus accepted all with contentment.
L Wouldst thou have men speak good of thee? speak good of them. And when thou hast learned to speak good of them, try to do good unto them, and thus thou wilt reap in return their speaking good of thee.
LlX God is beneficent. But the Good also is beneficent. It should seem then that where the real nature of God is, there too is to be found the real nature of the Good. What then is the real nature of God?---Intelligence, Knowledge, Right Reason. Here then without more ado seek the real nature of the Good. For surely thou dost not seek it in a plant or in an animal that reasoneth not.
LXVl When a youth was giving himself airs in the Theatre and saying, "I am wise, for I have conversed with many wise men," Epictetus replied, "I too have conversed with many rich men, yet I am not rich!."
LXXll If a man would pursue Philosophy, his first task is to throw away conceit. For it is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he has a conceit that he already knows.
LXXlX If you have assumed a character beyond your strength, you have both played a poor figure in that, and neglected one that is within your powers.
