HKB
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Often appears with: justice as a virtue · pride, vanity, and humility · the passions and the emotions · sin, guilt, and repentance · education and the training of the young · doubt, skepticism, and certainty · will, choice, and freedom · equity, mercy, and pardon · duty, conscience, and obligation · counsel and advisers to rulers · wise vs. unwise love · visions and revelations
Usually: exhortation (12) · detachment (8) · reflection (7) · argument (6) · crisis of belief (4) · the test or trial (3) · censure (3) · indignation (3) · narrative (2) · ambition and its cost (2)
“For it is in thy power, to do nothing against thine own proper God, and inward spirit. For it is not in any man's power to constrain thee to transgress against him.” Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Meditations · insight
“That is, that you consider and seriously meditate, that whatsoever perversity of will urges forward to action the men who so trouble and vex you, the assaults are not made upon you so directly by them as they are the work of Satan.” Jean Calvin, Letters of John Calvin, Volume I · insight
“Wherefore, my brethren, if you seek true victory, do not oppose evil by evil of a like kind, but laying aside all evil affections, be guided solely by your zeal for the service of God, moderated by his Spirit according to the rule of his word.” Jean Calvin, Letters of John Calvin, Volume I · precept
“Learn my mind—show me yours; and then go and say that you met me.” Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, with the Hymn of Cl · insight
“Patron or no patron, what care I? but you do care. I am richer than you; I am not racked with anxiety as to what Cæsar may think of me.” Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, with the Hymn of Cl · observation
“Ye are justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Rom. iii. 24.” John Bunyan, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners · insight
“The most frequent reproach of the scholastick race is the want of fortitude, not martial but philosophick.” Samuel Johnson, The Works of Samuel Johnson, in Sixteen Volumes. Vol · observation
Paul recounts suffering in detail and the escape from Damascus, then turns to visions and a “messenger of Satan” to prevent self-exaltation, ending with admonitions to examine themselves.
angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers fashion themselves as though they were the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their deeds. I say again lest any man think that I am foolish: or else even now take me as a fool, that I may boast myself a little. That I speak, I speak it not after the ways of the lord: but as it were foolishly, while we are now come to boasti…
It provides closing reflection on Marcus’s greatness: moral character comes from honest purpose, self-examination, obedience to right reason, and not being troubled by what others think or do.
his Meditations, as they are generally named—is a genuine work. In the first book he speaks of himself, his family, and his teachers; and in other books he mentions himself. It is plain that the emperor wrote down his thoughts or reflections as the occasions arose; and since they were intended for his own use, it is no improbable conjecture that he left a complete copy behind him written with his own hand; for it is…
He advises valuing virtues over entertainment, analyzing performances (singing, dancing, pancratium) part by part to see how shame prevents sincere confession of being controlled by them.
And other things of the same kind. After tragedy the old comedy was introduced, which had a magisterial freedom of speech, and by its very plainness of speaking was useful in reminding men to beware of insolence; and for this purpose too Diogenes used to take from these writers. But as to the middle comedy, which came next, observe what it was, and again, for what object the new comedy was introduced, which gradual…
Calvin argues that trials come by God’s permission, so Geneva must examine its own sins, confess faults like Daniel did, and avoid blaming enemies without acknowledging wrongdoing.
give them no occasion; even as our kind Master did not come to throw obstacles in men's path, but rather to be the way wherein all may walk without stumbling. To proceed, then, my beloved brethren, for that the hand of the Lord, from all that I can understand, is continually stretched forth to visit you, and that by his righteous permission the devil strives incessantly to scatter the Church which has begun to be fo…
Entering Book II, he warns that time is limited and often delayed, instructs a Roman and a man to act with gravity, justice, and freedom from vanity and hypocrisy, and urges daily focus on the soul’s guidance by reason.
arguments and fallacies, nor dwelt upon the studies of the meteors, and other natural curiosities. All these things without the assistance of the gods, and fortune, could not have been. XV. In the country of the Quadi at Granua, these. Betimes in the morning say to thyself, This day I shalt have to do with an idle curious man, with an unthankful man, a railer, a crafty, false, or an envious man; an unsociable unchar…
He insists that one can always protect the inner “proper God” or spirit from being violated by others, and then prompts the reader to question what part of the soul is currently at work.
is in thy power, to do nothing against thine own proper God, and inward spirit. For it is not in any man's power to constrain thee to transgress against him. XI. What is the use that now at this present I make of my soul? Thus from time to time and upon all occasions thou must put this question to thyself; what is now that part of mine which they call the rational mistress part, employed about? Whose soul do I now p…
Augustine argues that he should not be moved by his own praise, since even praise can feed vain-glory, and he tests himself by comparing how he reacts to others’ injustice versus his own reproach.
myself is not praised; forasmuch as either those things are praised, which displease me; or those more, which please me less. Am I then doubtful of myself in this matter? Behold, in Thee, O Truth, I see that I ought not to be moved at my own praises, for my own sake, but for the good of my neighbour. And whether it be so with me, I know not. For herein I know less of myself than of Thee. I beseech now, O my God, dis…
Johnson continues: scholars often err by neglecting self-examination, lacking philosophical fortitude against fear and passion, and then adopting fashions and vices once they leave study for the world.
labours, yet they are not to be charged with having spent their time in vain; their example contributed to inspire emulation, and their miscarriages taught others the way to success. But the distant hope of being one day useful or eminent, ought not to mislead us too far from that study which is equally requisite to the great and mean, to the celebrated and obscure; the art of moderating the desires, of repressing t…
Bunyan describes receiving communion with assurance that Christ’s body and blood were given for his sins, and then reports a sudden spring illness leading him to serious self-examination for salvation.
partaking of that blessed ordinance; and have, I trust, therein discerned the Lord’s body, as broken for my sins, and that His precious blood hath been shed for my transgressions. 255. Upon a time I was something inclining to a consumption, wherewith about the spring I was suddenly and violently seized, with much weakness in my outward man; insomuch that I thought I could not live. Now began I afresh to give mysel…
He argues the law drives believers to self-examination, leads them to fear divine judgment and death, and therefore pushes them to seek God’s mercy for salvation.
only port of salvation; and perceiving his inability to fulfil the commands of the law, and feeling nothing but despair in himself, he implores and expects assistance from another quarter. IV. But not contented with having conciliated a reverence for his righteousness, the Lord has also subjoined promises and threatenings, in order that our hearts might imbibe a love for him, and at the same time a hatred to iniquit…
Calvin urges self-examination under God’s standard rather than self-love, quoting Solomon and other prophets to claim humans see themselves as righteous, yet God weighs the hidden impurity of hearts.
is commonly considered as righteousness, is, in the Divine view, nothing but iniquity; that what is accounted integrity, is mere pollution; and that what is reputed glory, is real ignominy. V. From this contemplation of the Divine perfection, let us not be unwilling to descend to take a view of ourselves, without adulation or blind self‐love. For it is not to be wondered at, if we are so extremely blind in this resp…
Teresa reports that her earlier torment about souls’ ruin and her own possible offenses has lessened, though her desire that God not be sinned against remains strong.
Books insufficient without a director, xxii. 3. Borja, de, St. Francis. See Francis. Brief, the, sanctioning the observances of St. Joseph's, xxxiv. 2, xxxvi. 1, xxxix. 20. Brizeño, Doña Maria, ii. 12; influences the Saint, iii. 1. Bulls, the Sabbatine, xxxviii. 40. Cardona, de, Doña Catalina, Rel. iii. 12. Carmel, the Order of, vision concerning, Rel. iii. 14; advice to, Rel. x. Caterpillar of self-respect, …
Epictetus challenges a man claiming he will seek the governorship of Cnossus, urging him instead to examine and correct his own principles, and explains what it means to “meet” a philosopher.
XCIII You are sailing to Rome (you tell me) to obtain the post of Governor of Cnossus. You are not content to stay at home with the honours you had before; you want something on a larger scale, and more conspicuous. But when did you ever undertake a voyage for the purpose of reviewing your own principles and getting rid of any of them that proved unsound? Whom did you ever visit for that object? What time did you ev…
Epictetus tells his listeners to constantly test their own minds—seeking knowledge of good and bad and readiness to obey teachers—and then transitions to a practical account of friendship as love of what is truly good.
But men do not imagine injustice to be at all involuntary. There is also in jealousy, as they suppose, something involuntary; and for this reason they confess to jealousy also. Living then among such men, who are so confused, so ignorant of what they say, and of the evils which they have or have not, and why they have them, or how they shall be relieved of them, I think it is worth the trouble for a man to watch con…
Responding to a rhetorician going to Rome for office, Epictetus says success is uncertain, but one’s fate depends on right or false opinions, so true preparation is self-examination.
thing? No; but the greatest. What then? does it need only a short time? and is it possible to seize it as you pass by? If you can, seize it. Then you will say, I met with Epictetus as I should meet with a stone or a statue: for you saw me and nothing more. But he meets with a man as a man, who learns his opinions, and in his turn shows his own. Learn my opinions: show me yours; and then say that you have visited me.…
Epictetus says most people read and write to explain doctrines, not to shape conduct; he advises judging practice by correct actions, desires, avoidance, patience, and cooperation.
and ask if I also commit the same faults. How then shall I cease to commit them? Formerly I also acted wrong, but now I do not: thanks to God. What then is the reason of this? The reason is that we have never read for this purpose, we have never written for this purpose, so that we may in our actions use in a way conformable to nature the appearances presented to us; but we terminate in this, in learning what is sai…