The triad by negation. Four commands in the aorist infinitive, like military orders: (1) ἐξαλεῖψαι TERMφαντασίαν — "blot out the impression" (assent: do not let an image establish itself as true before examination); (2) στῆσαι TERMὁρμήν — "halt the impulse" (action: do not release the impulse until it is checked); (3) σβέσαι ὄρεξιν — "quench the craving" (desire: cut off the pull toward the external); (4) the upshot — TERMἐφ’ ἑαυτῷ ἔχειν τὸ ἡγεμονικόν: keep the DOGMAruling part in its own power. This is the negative twin of 9.6: there the three disciplines are stated affirmatively (what to do), here through what must be checked, and all of it reduces to the autonomy of the ἡγεμονικόν.

The order of the commands. The sequence is not accidental: first φαντασία (at the intake — assent), then ὁρμή (at the output — action), then ὄρεξις (the craving — desire). The first link is judgement, since both impulse and craving are born of an impression once accepted: erase the false impression at the root, and there is nothing to move either ὁρμή or ὄρεξις. The governing discipline is assent; the mode in which these commands are carried out unceasingly is EXERCISEattention to oneself.