Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/205

 Rh XV. Monimus the Cynick Philosopher used to say that all Things were but meer Fancy and Opinion; pretending there was no infallible Rule for the Test of Truth and Certainty. Now this rallying Expression may undoubtfully prove serviceable, provided one does not turn Sceptick, and carry it too far.

XVI. There are several Ways of Behaviour by which a Man may sink his Quality, use his Person very scurvily, and 'tis possible without being aware on't. And this in the First place is more remarkably done by murmuring at any thing which Happens. By doing thus, He makes Himself a sort of an Excrescence of the World, breaks off from the Constitution of Nature, and instead of a Limb becomes an Ulcer. Again, He falls under the same Misfortune who hates any Person, or Crosses upon him; with an intention of Mischief, which is the case of the Angry and Revengeful, Thirdly, A Man Lessens and Affronts himself when he is overcome by Pleasure, or Pain: Fourthly, When he makes use of Art, Tricking, and Falshood, in Word, or Action. Fifthly, When he does not know what he would be at in a Business, but runs on without Thought or Design; whereas even the least Undertaking ought to be aim'd at some End : Now the End Rh