we’ll investigate and examine the nature and condition of nothing else at all—be it land or slaves or horses or dogs—but only of our

if our souls are closely bound and united to God in this way as portions and fragments of himself, surely God will be aware of their every movement, as being a movement of his own that is grounded in his own nature?

principal duties. And what are those? [26] Fulfilling one’s role as a citizen, marrying, having children, honouring God, taking care of one’s parents, and, in a word, having our desires and aversions, and our motives to act and or not to act, as each of them ought to be, in accordance with our nature. And what is our nature? [27] To be people who a

Look now, this is the starting point of philosophy: the recognition that different people have conflicting opinions, the rejection of mere opinion so that it comes to be viewed with mistrust, an investigation of opinion to determine whether it is rightly held, and the discovery of a standard of judgement, comparable to the balance that we have devi

When you’ve become adapted to a simple way of life in bodily matters, don’t pride yourself on that, and likewise, if you drink nothing but water, don’t proclaim at every opportunity that you drink nothing but water. And if at any time you want to train yourself to endure hardship, do it for your own sake and not for others;

you should be confident with regard to things that lie outside the sphere of choice, and exercise caution with regard to those that lie within it.

these arise in no other way than through our being frustrated in our desires and falling into what we want to avoid. This is what brings about disturbances, confusions, misfortunes, and calamities, and causes sorrow, lamentation, and envy, making people envious and jealous,

don’t expect me to resemble the rest, and don’t find fault with my nature for having made me different from the rest.

the life of every one of us is a campaign, and a long one subject to varying circumstances. You must fulfil the role of a soldier and carry out every deed as your general bids,