The Necklace

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  “SHE WAS one of those pretty, charming young ladies, born, as if through an error of destiny, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, appreciated, loved, and married by a man either rich or distinguished; and she allowed herself to marry a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. . . .  She had neither frocks nor jewels, nothing. And she loved only those things. She felt that she was made for them. She had such a desire to please, to be sought after, to be clever, and courted.” —THE NECKLACE Guy de Maupassant    France, 1884 (pic by Grok) Read this short story here:  https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/the-necklace

Enchiridion 23: Contentment

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"If you ever happen to turn your attention to externals for the pleasure of any one, be assured that you have ruined your scheme of life. Be contented then, in everything, with being a philosopher; and if you wish to seem so likewise to any one, appear so to yourself, and it will suffice you." (Epictetus, Enchiridion 23)

The principle is simple: be content with who you are.

“We all love ourselves more than other people, but care about their opinion more than our own." (Marcus Aurelius)

Simple, and worth the meditation.

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