say this of those who have shone in a wondrous
way. For the rest, as soon as they have breathed out their breath they
are gone, and no man speaks of them. And, to conclude the matter, what
is even an eternal remembrance? A mere nothing. What then is that about
which we ought to employ our serious pains? This one thing, thoughts
just, and acts social, and words which never lie, and a disposition
which gladly accepts all that happens, as necessary, as usual, as
flowing from a principle and source of the same kind.

34. Willingly give thyself up to Clotho [one of the fates], allowing her
to spin thy thread + into whatever things she pleases.

35. Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that
which is remembered.

36. Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and
accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the universe loves
nothing so much as to change the things which are and to make new things
like them. For everything that exists is in a manner the seed of that
which will be. But thou art thinking only of seeds which are cast into
the earth or into a womb: but this is a very vulgar notion.

37. Thou wilt soon die, and thou art not yet simple, nor free from
perturbations, nor without suspicion of being hurt by external things,
nor kindly disposed towards all; nor dost thou yet place wisdom only in
acting justly.

38. Examine men's ruling principles, even those of the wise, what kind
of things they avoid, and what kind they pursue.

39. What is evil to thee does not subsist in the ruling principle of
another; nor yet in any turning and mutation of thy corporeal covering.
Where is it then? It is in that part of thee in which subsists the power
of forming opinions about evils. Let this power then not form [such]
opinions, and all is well. And if that which is nearest to it, the poor
body, is cut, burnt, filled with matter and rottenness, nevertheless let
the part which forms opinions about these things be quiet; that is, let
it judge that nothing is either bad or good which can happen equally to
the bad man and the good. For that which happens equally to him who
lives contrary to nature and to him who lives according to nature, is
neither according to nature nor contrary to nature.

40. Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one
substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one
perception, the perception of this one living being; and how