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“To read with diligence; not to rest satisfied with a light and superficial knowledge, nor quickly to assent to things commonly spoken of: whom also I must thank that ever I lighted upon Epictetus his _Hypomnemata_, or moral commentaries and common-factions: which also he gave me of his own.”

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— Marcus Aurelius

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MEDITATIONS By Marcus Aurelius hat I never by way of ostentation did affect to show myself an active able man, for any kind of bodily exercises. And that I gave over the study of rhetoric and poetry, and of elegant neat language. That I did not use to walk about the house in my long robe, nor to do any such things. Moreover I learned of him to write letters without any affectation, or curiosity; such as that was, which by him was written to my mother from Sinuessa: and to be easy and ready to be reconciled, and well pleased again with them that had offended me, as soon as any of them would be content to seek unto me again. To read with diligence; not to rest satisfied with a light and superficial knowledge, nor quickly to assent to things commonly spoken of: whom also I must thank that ever I lighted upon Epictetus his _Hypomnemata_, or moral commentaries and common-factions: which also he gave me of his own. V. From Apollonius, true liberty, and unvariable steadfastness, and not to regard anything at all, though never so little, but right and reason: and always, whether in the sharpest pains, or after the loss of a child, or in long diseases, to be still the same man; who also was a present and visible example unto me, that it was possible for the same man to be both vehement and remiss: a man not subject to be vexed, and offended with the incapacity of his scholars and auditors in his lectures and expositions; and a true pattern of a man who of all his good gifts and faculties, least esteemed in Public domain in the USA.
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Source

Title
Meditations
Type
Public-domain primary text · Primary source
Location
THE FIRST BOOK
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Context

Section IV ends by crediting Rusticus with careful reading habits and access to Epictetus.

What it means

Marcus describes intellectual diligence and an important philosophical influence.

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Bibliography entry
Aurelius, Marcus. (n.d.). Meditations. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2680/pg2680.txt
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Aurelius (n.d., THE FIRST BOOK)
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(Aurelius, n.d., THE FIRST BOOK)

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Provenance: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2680/pg2680.txt