hich pleases the soul, or supplies a want, or is loved,
remember to add this to the (description, notion): What is the nature of
each thing, beginning from the smallest? If you love an earthen vessel,
say it is an earthen vessel which you love; for when it has been broken
you will not be disturbed. If you are kissing your child or wife, say
that it is a human being whom you are kissing, for when the wife or
child dies you will not be disturbed.

IV.

When you are going to take in hand any act remind yourself what kind of
an act it is. If you are going to bathe, place before yourself what
happens in the bath; some splashing the water, others pushing against
one another, others abusing one another, and some stealing; and thus
with more safety you will undertake the matter, if you say to yourself,
I now intend to bathe, and to maintain my will in a manner conformable
to nature. And so you will do in every act; for thus if any hindrance to
bathing shall happen let this thought be ready. It was not this only
that I intended, but I intended also to maintain my will in a way
conformable to nature; but I shall not maintain it so if I am vexed at
what happens.

V.

Men are disturbed not by the things which happen, but by the opinions
about the things; for example, death is nothing terrible, for if it were
it would have seemed so to Socrates; for the opinion about death that it
is terrible, is the terrible thing. When then we are impeded, or
disturbed, or grieved, let us never blame others, but ourselves--that
is, our opinions. It is the act of an ill-instructed man to blame others
for his own bad condition; it is the act of one who has begun to be
instructed, to lay the blame on himself; and of one whose instruction is
completed, neither to blame another, nor himself.

VI.

Be not elated at any advantage (excellence) which belongs to another. If
a horse when he is elated should say, I am beautiful, one might endure
it. But when you are elated, and say, I have a beautiful horse, you must
know that you are elated at having a good horse. What then is your own?
The use of appearances. Consequently when in the use of appearances
you are conformable to nature, then be elated, for then you will be
elated at something good which is your own.

VII.

As on a voyage when the vessel has reached a port, if you go out to get
water it is an amusement by the way to pick up a shellfish or some bulb,
but your thoughts ought to be direc