BOOK IX
thy mind[1] that the evil for thee and the harmful have their whole existence.
Where is the harm or the strangeness in the boor acting—like a boor? See whether thou art not thyself the more to blame in not expecting that he would act thus wrongly. For thy reason too could have given thee means for concluding that this would most likely be the case. Nevertheless all this is forgotten, and thou art surprised at his wrongdoing.
But above all, when thou findest fault with a man for faithlessness and ingratitude,[2] turn thy thoughts to thyself. For evidently the fault is thine own, whether thou hadst faith that a man with such a character would keep faith with thee, or if in bestowing a kindness thou didst not bestow it absolutely and as from the very doing of it having at once received the full complete fruit.[3]
For when thou hast done a kindness, what more wouldst thou have? Is not this enough that thou hast done something in accordance with thy nature? Seekest thou a recompense for it? As though the eye should claim a guerdon for seeing, or the feet for walking! For just as these latter were made for their special work, and by carrying this out according to their individual constitution they come fully into their own, so also man, formed as he is by nature for benefiting others, when he has acted as benefactor or as co-factor in any other way for the general weal, has done what he was constituted for, and has what is his.[4]
- ↑ Lit. there, i.e. in thy mind.
- ↑ cp. the striking parallel in Dio 71. 24, § 2, τὸ μηδὲν πιστὸν ἐν ἀνθρώποις εἶναι: ibid. 71. 26, § 2, πίστιν καταλύσαντι πιστὸν διαγενέσθαι, where Marcus is speaking to his soldiers on the revolt of Cassius; and 27. § 1, where, writing to the Senate, he calls Cassius ἀχάριστος. I cannot help thinking that this section of the Thoughts was written at the time of the rebellion in 175, and that Marcus is here taking himself to task.
- ↑ v. 6; vii. 73.
- ↑ iv. 49; xi. 1. cp. St. Matt. vi. 2. Marcus was noted for εὐεργεσία, Dio 71. 34, §3; C.I.Gr. 2495, 4697c.
