HKB
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Often appears with: the problem of evil and theodicy · the fear of death · smallness of human life · reason and the intellect · following reason and god · contempt of death
Usually: argument (1) · confronting death (1) · crisis of belief (1) · detachment (1) · exhortation (1)
“Man, thou hast been a citizen in this great state [the world]; what difference does it make to thee whether for five years [or three]?” Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius · observation
The text develops Stoic unity—one substance and one intelligent soul—then questions what is truly worth desiring, urges living according to reason and God, and teaches reflection on time, earth, and death.
faculty make use of itself? for all lies in this. But everything else, whether it is in the power of thy will or not, is only lifeless ashes and smoke. 34. This reflection is most adapted to move us to contempt of death, that even those who think pleasure to be a good and pain an evil still have despised it. 35. The man to whom that only is good which comes in due season, and to whom it is the same thing whether he…