W HATSOEVER any man either doth or saith, thou must be good; not for any man's sake, but for thine own nature's sake.
MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book vii. 12.
AFTER one consideration, man is nearest unto us; as we are bound to do them good, and to bear with them. But as he may oppose any of our true proper actions, so man is unto me but as a thing indifferent: even as the sun, or the wind, or some wild beast. By some of these it may be, that some operation or other of mine, may be hindered; however, of my mind and resolution itself, there can be no let or impediment.
MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book v. 17.
WE ought to do well by our friends when they are present, and speak well of them when they are absent.
Attributed to EPICTETUS.
In combining the three messages, I get the impression that there are friends, and fellow-beings, and natural phenomena. No enemies. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe must honour people in their absence. When someone speaks against someone, if they are not present, we must defend their character and reputation. Only when someone is present can we question them.
ReplyDelete