Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/287

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Meditations, &c.
107

magine that Error and Ignorance has less force upon the Mind, than a little Gall, or Venome upon the Body?

LVIII. As no body can rob you of the privileges of your Nature, or force you to live Counter to your Reason, so nothing can happen to you but what comes from Providence, and consists with the Interest of the Universe. [1]

LIX. Consider with your self, what sort of People your Men of Popularity must court, what scandalous Submissions they are obliged too, and what poor returns they have for their pains? And then how soon Death, and Oblivion sweep all before them.


BOOK VII.

WHAT is Vice, and Wickedness? No Rarity you may depend on't. When you are in danger of being Shocked, consider that the sight is nothing but what you have frequently seen already. To be brief, Men and Manners are generally much what alike. All Ages and Histories, Towns, and Families; are of the same Complexion; and full of the same Stories: There's nothing new to be met with; but all things are common, and quickly over.

II. Opi-
  1. See Book 5. Sect. 8.