the proper object of his particular care and providence.
This often thought upon, will much conduce to thy tranquillity.


THE EIGHTH BOOK

I. This also, among other things, may serve to keep thee
from vainglory; if thou shalt consider, that thou art now altogether
incapable of the commendation of one, who all his life long,
or from his youth at least, hath lived a philosopher's life.
For both unto others, and to thyself especially, it is well known,
that thou hast done many things contrary to that perfection of life.
Thou hast therefore been confounded in thy course, and henceforth it
will be hard for thee to recover the title and credit of a philosopher.
And to it also is thy calling and profession repugnant. If therefore
thou dost truly understand, what it is that is of moment indeed;
as for thy fame and credit, take no thought or care for that:
let it suffice thee if all the rest of thy life, be it more or less,
thou shalt live as thy nature requireth, or accor-ing to the true
and natural end of thy making. Take pains therefore to know
what it is that thy nature requireth, and let nothing else
distract thee. Thou hast already had sufficient experience,
that of those many things that hitherto thou hast erred and
wandered about, thou couldst not find happiness in any of them.
Not in syllogisms, and logical subtilties, not in wealth, not in
honour and reputation, not in pleasure. In none of all these.
Wherein then is it to be found? In the practice of those things,
which the nature of man, as he is a man, doth require. How then shall
he do those things? if his dogmata, or moral tenets and opinions
(from which all motions and actions do proceed), be right and true.