That's what nature does. Nature -- through whom all things happen as they should, and have happened forever in just the same way, and will continue to, one way or another, endlessly. That things happen for the worst and always will, that the gods have no power to regulate them, and the world is condemned to never-ending evil -- how can you say that? 36. Disgust at what things are made of: Liquid, dust, bones, filth. Or marble as hardened dirt, gold and silver as residues, clothes as hair, purple dye as shellfish blood. And all the rest. And the same with our living breath -- transformed from one thing to another. 37. Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life. What's the matter? Is any of this new? What is it you find surprising? The purpose? Look at it. The material? Look at that. That's all there is. And the gods? Well, you could try being simpler, gentler. Even now. A hundred years or three. . . . No difference. 38. If they've injured you, then they're the ones who suffer for it. But have they? 39. Either all things spring from one intelligent source and form a single body (and the part should accept the actions of the whole) or there are only atoms, joining and splitting forever, and nothing else. So why feel anxiety? Say to your mind: Are you dead? damaged? brutal? dishonest? Are you one of the herd? or grazing like one? 40. Either the gods have power or they don't. If they don't, why pray? If they do, then why not pray for something else instead of for things to happen or not to happen? Pray not to feel fear. Or desire, or grief. If the gods can do anything, they can surely do that for us. -- But those are things the gods left up to me. Then isn't it better to do what's up to you -- like a free man -- than to be passively controlled by what isn't, like a slave or beggar? And what makes you think the gods don't care about what's up to us? Start praying like this and you'll see. Not "some way to sleep with her" -- but a way to stop wanting to. Not "some way to get rid of him" -- but a way to stop trying. Not "some way to save my child" -- but a way to lose your fear. Redirect your prayers like that, and watch what happens. 41. Epicurus: "During my illness, my conversations were not about my physical state; I did not waste my visitors' time with things of that sort, but went on discussing philosophy, and concentrated on one point in particular: how the mind can participate in the sensations of the body and yet maintain its serenity, and focus on its own well-being. Nor did I let my doctors strut about like grandees. I went on living my life the way it should be lived." Like that. In illness -- or any other situation. Not to let go of philosophy, no matter what happens; not to bandy words with crackpots and philistines -- good rules for any philosopher. Concentrate on what you're doing, and what you're doing it with.🏁

That's what nature does. Nature -- through whom all things happen as they should, and have happened forever in just the same way, and will continue to, one way or another, endlessly. That things happen for the worst and always will, that the gods have no power to regulate them, and the world is condemned to never-ending evil -- how can you say that? 36. Disgust at what things are made of: Liquid, dust, bones, filth. Or marble as hardened dirt, gold and silver as residues, clothes as hair, purple dye as shellfish blood. And all the rest. And the same with our living breath -- transformed from one thing to another. 37. Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life. What's the matter? Is any of this new? What is it you find surprising? The purpose? Look at it. The material? Look at that. That's all there is. And the gods? Well, you could try being simpler, gentler. Even now. A hundred years or three. . . . No difference. 38. If they've injured you, then they're the ones who suffer for it. But have they? 39. Either all things spring from one intelligent source and form a single body (and the part should accept the actions of the whole) or there are only atoms, joining and splitting forever, and nothing else. So why feel anxiety? Say to your mind: Are you dead? damaged? brutal? dishonest? Are you one of the herd? or grazing like one? 40. Either the gods have power or they don't. If they don't, why pray? If they do, then why not pray for something else instead of for things to happen or not to happen? Pray not to feel fear. Or desire, or grief. If the gods can do anything, they can surely do that for us. -- But those are things the gods left up to me. Then isn't it better to do what's up to you -- like a free man -- than to be passively controlled by what isn't, like a slave or beggar? And what makes you think the gods don't care about what's up to us? Start praying like this and you'll see. Not "some way to sleep with her" -- but a way to stop wanting to. Not "some way to get rid of him" -- but a way to stop trying. Not "some way to save my child" -- but a way to lose your fear. Redirect your prayers like that, and watch what happens. 41. Epicurus: "During my illness, my conversations were not about my physical state; I did not waste my visitors' time with things of that sort, but went on discussing philosophy, and concentrated on one point in particular: how the mind can participate in the sensations of the body and yet maintain its serenity, and focus on its own well-being. Nor did I let my doctors strut about like grandees. I went on living my life the way it should be lived." Like that. In illness -- or any other situation. Not to let go of philosophy, no matter what happens; not to bandy words with crackpots and philistines -- good rules for any philosopher. Concentrate on what you're doing, and what you're doing it with.🏁