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Meditations · Marcus Aurelius

XXXI. To comprehend the whole world together in thy mind,

and the whole course of this present age to represent it

unto thyself, and to fix thy thoughts upon the sudden change

of every particular object. How short the time is from

the generation of anything, unto the dissolution of the same;

but how immense and infinite both that which was before

the generation, and that which after the generation of it shall be.

All things that thou seest, will soon be perished, and they

that see their corruptions, will soon vanish away themselves.

He that dieth a hundred years old, and he that dieth young,

shall come all to one.

XXXII. What are their minds and understandings; and what the things

that they apply themselves unto: what do they love, and what do they

hate for? Fancy to thyself the estate of their souls openly to be seen.

When they think they hurt them shrewdly, whom they speak ill of; and when

they think they do them a very good turn, whom they commend and extol:

O how full are they then of conceit, and opinion!