Page:The Emperor Marcus Antoninus - His Conversation with Himself.djvu/254

 74 Notion may be applyed to all External Advantages. For These are not included in the Idea; They are not required of us as Men; Humane Nature does not promise them, neither is she perfected by them: From whence it follows that They can neither constitute the Chief End of Man, nor strictly contribute towards it. Farther, if these Things were any real Additions, how comes the Contempt of them, and the being easy without them, to be so great a Commendation? To balk an Advantage would be Folly, for one can't have too much of that which is Good. But the Case stands otherwise; For we know that Self-Denial, and Indifference about these Things is the Character of a Good Man, and goes for a Mark of true Greatness.

XVI. Your Manners will depend very much upon the Quality of what you frequently think on; For the Soul is as it were Tinged with the Colour, and Complexion of Thought. Be sure therefore to work in such Maxims as these. A Man may live as he should do, and Behave Himself well in all Places, By consequence, a Life of Virtue, and that of a Courtier are not inconsistent. Again: That which a Thing is made for, 'tis made to Act for; and that which 'tis made to Act for, 'tis Rh