Take care that thou art not made into a Caesar, that thou art not MOTIFdyed with this dye; for such things happen. Keep thyself then simple, TERMgood, pure, serious, free from affectation, a friend of justice, a worshipper of the gods, kind, affectionate, strenuous in all proper acts. Strive to continue to be such as philosophy wished to make thee. TERMReverence the gods, and help men. EXERCISEShort is life. There is only one fruit of this terrene life, a DOGMApious disposition and TERMsocial acts. Do everything as a disciple of PERSONAntoninus. Remember his constancy in every act which was conformable to reason, and his evenness in all things, and his piety, and the serenity of his countenance, and his sweetness, and his disregard of empty fame, and his efforts to understand things; and how he would never let anything pass without having first most carefully examined it and clearly understood it; and how he bore with those who blamed him unjustly without blaming them in return; how he did nothing in a hurry; and how he listened not to calumnies, and how exact an examiner of manners and actions he was; and not given to reproach people, nor timid, nor suspicious, nor a sophist; and with how little he was satisfied, such as lodging, bed, dress, food, servants; and how laborious and patient; and how he was able on account of his sparing diet to hold out to the evening, not even requiring to relieve himself by any evacuations except at the usual hour; and his firmness and uniformity in his friendships; and how he tolerated freedom of speech in those who opposed his opinions; and the pleasure that he had when any man showed him anything better; and how religious he was without superstition. Imitate all this that thou mayest have as good a conscience, when thy last hour comes, as he had.

See that you are not Caesarified, not MOTIFdyed with the purple — for it does happen. Keep yourself simple, TERMgood, undefiled, dignified, unaffected, a friend of justice, god-fearing, kind, affectionate, strong for the deeds that befit you. Strive to remain such as philosophy wished to make you. TERMRevere the gods, help human beings. EXERCISELife is short; the one harvest of this earthly life is a DOGMAholy disposition and TERMacts for the common good. Do everything as a disciple of PERSONAntoninus: his vigour in acts done by reason, his evenness everywhere, his piety, the serenity of his face, his gentleness, his freedom from vanity, his zeal to grasp things; how he let nothing pass unexamined and clearly understood; how he bore those who blamed him unjustly without blaming back; how he hurried at nothing, gave no ear to slanders, was an exact examiner of characters and deeds, yet no fault-finder, not fearful, not suspicious, no sophist; how little sufficed him — lodging, bed, dress, food, attendance; how hard-working and long-suffering; how, on his frugal diet, he could stay at his place till evening; his steadiness in friendships; how he bore frank opponents of his views and rejoiced when shown something better; how god-fearing he was without superstition — so that your last hour may find you with a conscience as clear as his.