reverence that which is best in thyself; and this is of the same kind as
that. For in thyself also, that which makes use of everything else is
this, and thy life is directed by this.

22. That which does no harm to the state, does no harm to the citizen. In
the case of every appearance of harm apply this rule: if the state is not
harmed by this, neither am I harmed. But if the state is harmed, thou
must not be angry with him who does harm to the state. Show him where his
error is.

23. Often think of the rapidity with which things pass by and disappear,
both the things which are and the things which are produced. For
substance is like a river in a continual flow, and the activities of
things are in constant change, and the causes work in infinite varieties;
and there is hardly anything which stands still. And consider this which
is near to thee, this boundless abyss of the past and of the future in
which all things disappear. How then is he not a fool who is puffed up
with such things or plagued about them and makes himself miserable? for
they vex him only for a time, and a short time.

24. Think of the universal substance, of which thou hast a very small
portion; and of universal time, of which a short and indivisible interval
has been assigned to thee; and of that which is fixed by destiny, and how
small a part of it thou art.

25. Does another do me wrong? Let him look to it. He has his own
disposition, his own activity. I now have what the universal nature wills
me to have; and I do what my nature now wills me to do.

26. Let the part of thy soul which leads and governs be undisturbed by