XV. Is any man so foolish as to fear change, to which all things
that once were not owe their being? And what is it, that is
more pleasing and more familiar to the nature of the universe?
How couldst thou thyself use thy ordinary hot baths, should not
the wood that heateth them first be changed? How couldst thou
receive any nourishment from those things that thou hast eaten,
if they should not be changed? Can anything else almost
(that is useful and profitable) be brought to pass without change?
How then dost not thou perceive, that for thee also, by death,
to come to change, is a thing of the very same nature,
and as necessary for the nature of the universe?

XVI. Through the substance of the universe, as through a torrent
pass all particular bodies, being all of the same nature, and all
joint workers with the universe itself as in one of our bodies
so many members among themselves. How many such as Chrysippus,
how many such as Socrates, how many such as Epictetus,
hath the age of the world long since swallowed up and devoured?
Let this, be it either men or businesses, that thou hast
occasion to think of, to the end that thy thoughts be not
distracted and thy mind too earnestly set upon anything,
upon every such occasion presently come to thy mind.
Of all my thoughts and cares, one only thing shall be the object,
that I myself do nothing which to the proper constitution of man,
(either in regard of the thing itself, or in regard of the manner,
or of the time of doing,) is contrary. The time when thou
shalt have forgotten all things, is at hand. And that time
also is at hand, when thou thyself shalt be forgotten by all.
Whilst thou art, apply thyself to that especially which unto