We must examine the nature of every action we undertake.

When you are about to begin any undertaking, remind yourself what kind of undertaking it is. If you are leaving the house to bathe, bring to mind what happens at a public bath: people who splash you with water, people who bump into you, people who insult you and rob you. In this way you will approach what you are doing with greater security, if from the start you say to yourself, “I want to take a bath, and, at the same time, to keep my moral purpose in harmony with nature.” Do the same in every undertaking. For if something happens to interfere with your bathing, you will be ready to say, “Oh, well, this was not the only thing that I wanted, but I wanted also to keep my moral purpose in harmony with nature; and I shall not keep it so if I am vexed at what is going on.”