Meditations VIII.32

Act by act thou must build up thy life, and be content, if each act as far as may be fulfils its end.³² And there is never a man that can prevent it doing this. But there will be some impediment from without. There can be none to thy behaving justly, soberly, wisely. But what if some other exercise of activity be hindered? Well, a cheerful acceptance of the hindrance and a tactful transition to what is allowed will enable another action to be substituted that will be in keeping with the built-up life of which we are speaking.

• 32.Or, receives its due reward (ἀπέχει).