16. The ruling faculty does not disturb itself; I mean, does not frighten
itself or cause itself pain. But if any one else can frighten or pain it,
let him do so. For the faculty itself will not by its own opinion turn
itself into such ways. Let the body itself take care, if it can, that it
suffer nothing, and let it speak, if it suffers. But the soul itself,
that which is subject to fear, to pain, which has completely the power of
forming an opinion about these things, will suffer nothing, for it will
never deviate into such a judgment. The leading principle in itself wants
nothing, unless it makes a want for itself; and therefore it is both free
from perturbation and unimpeded, if it does not disturb and impede
itself.

17. Eudaemonia [happiness] is a good daemon, or a good thing. What then
art thou doing here, O imagination? Go away, I entreat thee by the gods,
as thou didst come, for I want thee not. But thou art come according to
thy old fashion. I am not angry with thee: only go away.

18. Is any man afraid of change? Why, what can take place without change?
What then is more pleasing or more suitable to the universal nature? And
canst thou take a bath unless the wood undergoes a change? and canst thou
be nourished, unless the food undergoes a change? And can anything else
that is useful be accomplished without change? Dost thou not see then
that for thyself also to change is just the same, and equally necessary
for the universal nature?

19. Through the universal substance as through a furious torrent all
bodies are carried, being by their nature united with and co-operating
with the whole, as the parts of our body with one another. How many a
Chrysippus, how many a Socrates, how many an Epictetus has time already