Meditations — passage 194

148 NOTES (a combination of 'By their fruits ye shall know them' and 'Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?') is nevertheless prominent in the Meditations: see in particular 5.17, 5.2.8, 7.71, 8.14-15, 9.42.3-4, 10.30, 11.18.2., 11.18.11, 12.16. The same fig-tree analogy is used again in 12.16 (and similar in 8.15): see also 10.8.4, XI-33- Fig-juice was used as rennet, to curdle milk. 4.7 Remove the judgement: For this doctrine, frequently rehearsed in the Meditations, that hurt or harm (including physical hurt) is only a matter of perception (i.e. rational judgement), see notes on 2.15 and 5.19. Closest to this passage is 12.25 : 'Je t tis o n the judgement, and you are saved.' An ingredient is the Socratic belief, adopted by Stoic ethics, that the only true harm is (moral) harm done to oneself: on this see notes on 2.1 and 2.6. The next chapter, 4.8, is a firm statement of this belief (similar in 2.11.2). For Marcus on pain see note on 7.33. 4.10 'All's right that happens in the world'': This appears to be a quotation, or at least a popular saying, but the source is unknown. For the 'justice' of men's allotted experience, and the obligation to accept it gladly - a very frequent theme in the Meditations - see note on 5.8. 4.12 to change your ground: Despite Marcus' almost obsessive insist- ence (to himself) on the retention of his independence of others' opinions and values (see notes on 2.6 and 5.3), he also recognizes the need to accept advice, correction, and help. For advice/correc- tion see 1.16.1 and 6.30.2 (the example of Antoninus), 6.21, 8.16. For the acceptance of help see 7.5, 7.7 ('Do not be ashamed of help'), 7.12, 10.12. 4.14 See note on 2.17.2. 4.15 For indifference to the length of life (this is the point of the image of the grains of incense) see 3.7 note. 4.17 For the exhortation to 'become good' compare 4.10,4.25, 7.15, 10.16, and see introductory note to Book 3 and note on 3.4. 4.18 the black characters either side: The reference is obscure (yet more so that to the 'black character' in 4.28), but presumably this striking expression is a fusion of two of Marcus' favourite themes - the unworthiness of his associates and contemporaries (see notes on 3.4.4, 4.6, and 5.10.1), and the need to remain independent of the influence of others (see notes on 2.6 and 5.3). For the right path, along which one should 'run the straight race' ('the line' is death), see note on 5.4. 4.19 Fame and its shorter-term analogue, praise, both fascinate and