November 30

"IF YOU seek tranquility, do less." Or (more accurately) do what's essential - what the logos of a social being requires, and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better.

Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you'll have more time, and more tranquility. Ask yourself at every moment, "Is this necessary?"

But we need to eliminate unnecessary assumptions as well. To eliminate the unnecessary actions that follow.

MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book iv. 24.

November 29

IT is better to admonish than reproach ; for the one is mild and friendly, the other harsh and affronting ; and the one corrects the faulty, the other only convicts them.

EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 102.

ALL men are made one for another : either then teach them better, or bear with them.

MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book viii. 56.

IN general every faculty is dangerous to weak and uninstructed persons; as being apt to render them arrogant and elated. For by what method can one persuade a young man who excels in these kinds of study that he ought not to be an appendix to them, but they to him?

EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book i. §8. ¶1.

November 28

CHOOSE rather to punish your appetites than to be punished by them.

EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 108.

WHEN you have shut your doors, and darkened your room, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not; but God is within, and your genius is within; and what need have they of light to see what you are doing? To this God you likewise ought to swear such an oath as the soldiers do unto Caesar. For do they, in order to receive their pay, swear to prefer before all things the safety of Caesar; and will you not swear, who have received so many and so great favours, or if you have sworn, will you not stand to it? And what must you swear? Never to disobey, nor accuse, nor murmur at any of the things appointed by him, nor unwillingly to do or suffer anything necessary. Is this oath like the former? In the first, persons swear not to honour any other beyond Caesar; in the last, beyond all, to honour themselves.

EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book i. §14. ¶1.

November 27

YOU will confer the greatest benefits on your city, not by raising the roofs, but by exalting the souls of your fellow-citizens. For it is better that great souls should live in small habitations than that abject slaves should burrow in great houses.

EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 76.

AN unmusical person is a child in music; an illiterate person, a child in learning; and an untaught one, a child in life.

EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book iii. §19. ¶1.

AS it is better to lie straitened for room upon a little couch in health, than to toss upon a wide bed in sickness : so it is better to contract yourself within the compass of a small fortune and be happy, than to have a great one and be wretched.

EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 21.

IT is not poverty that causes sorrow, but covetous desires; nor do riches deliver from fear, but reasoning. If therefore you acquire a habit of reasoning, you will neither desire riches nor complain of poverty.

EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS.

November 26

AS you would not wish to sail in a large and finely decorated and gilded ship, and sink; so neither is it eligible to inhabit a grand and sumptuous house, and be in a storm of passions and cares.

EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 11.

AS I bear in mind that I am a part of such an Universe, I shall not be displeased with anything that happens. And as I have relation of kindred to those parts that are of the same kind and nature that I am, so I shall be careful to do nothing that is prejudicial to the community, but in all my deliberations shall they that are of my kind ever be ; and the common good, that, which all my intentions and resolutions shall drive unto, as that which is contrary unto it, I shall by all means endeavour to prevent and avoid. These things once so fixed and concluded, as thou wouldst think him an happy citizen, whose constant study and practice were for the good and benefit of his fellow citizens, and the carriage of the city such towards him, that he were well pleased with it; so must it needs be with thee, that thou shalt live a happy life.

MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book x. 6.

November 25

WHEN we see anyone handle an axe awkwardly, we do not say, "Where is the use of this art? See how ill carpenters perform." But we say the very contrary, "This man is no carpenter, for he handles an axe awkwardly." So, if we hear anyone sing badly, we do not say, "Observe how musicians sing," but rather, "This fellow is no musician." It is with regard to philosophy alone that people are thus affected. When they see anyone acting contrary to the profession of a philosopher, they do not take away his title; but laying it down that he is a philosopher, and then assuming from the very fact that he behaves indecently, they infer that philosophy is of no use.

"What, then, is the reason of this?" Because we pay some regard to the preconception which we have of a carpenter and a musician and so of other artists, but not of a philosopher, which being thus vague and confused, we judge of it only from external appearances. And of what other art do we take up our judgment from the dress?

EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book iv. §8. ¶1.

November 24

RUFUS used to say, If you are at leisure to praise me, I speak to no purpose. And indeed he used to speak in such a manner that each of us who heard him supposed that some person had accused us to him ; he so hit upon what was done by us, and placed the faults of everyone before his eyes.

EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book iii. §23. ¶1.

DOTH a philosopher apply to people to hear him? Doth he not attract those who are fitted to receive benefit from him, in the same manner as the sun or their necessary food doth ? What physician applies to anybody to be cured by him ?

EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book iii. §23. ¶1.

IT is more necessary for the soul to be cured than the body ; for it is better to die than to live ill.

EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 87.

November 23

IT is a thing very possible, that a man should be a very divine man, and yet be altogether unknown. This thou must ever be mindful of, as of this also, that a man's true happiness doth consist in very few things. And that although thou dost despair, that thou shalt ever be a good either Logician, or Naturalist, yet thou art never the further off by it from being either liberal, or modest, or charitable, or obedient unto God.

MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book vii. 38.

WILL any condemn me? let him look to that, upon what grounds he does it: my care shall be that I may never be found either doing, or speaking anything that doth truly deserve contempt. Will any hate me? let him look to that. I for my part will be kind and loving unto all.

MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book xi. 12.