governing principle

is the spirit Jove gave each man, a piece of himself, as overseer and governor.

Recast in definition form from: “performing whatsoever is pleasing to that Spirit, whom (being part of himself) Jove hath appointed to every man as his overseer and governor.”

stirs and turns itself, and makes everything that happens look to it the way it chooses.

Recast in definition form from: “The rational commanding part, as it alone can stir up and turn itself; so it maketh both itself to be, and everything that happeneth, to appear unto itself, as it will itself.”

needs the care you take in walking not to step on a nail or sprain your ankle.

Recast in definition form from: “Just as you are careful, in walking about, not to step on a nail or to sprain your ankle, so be careful also not to hurt your governing principle.”

is the one piece of you that must not become a puppet jerked about on the wires of unreasoning desire.

Recast in definition form from: “The third, is thy ruling part; and here consider; Thou art an old man; suffer not that excellent part to be brought in subjection, and to become slavish: suffer it not to be drawn up and down with unreasonable and unsociable lusts and motions, as it were with wires and nerves”

is the only thing a worried king neglects: "Woe is me, the Greeks are in danger!" — Ah, miserable faculty, the only thing uncared for.

Recast in definition form from: “And whenever some one of these things that are none of its own concern is in a bad way, it says, "Woe is me, for the Greeks are in danger. Ah, miserable governing principle, the only thing neglected and uncared for!”

Epictetus

Marcus Aurelius

self-control

judgment

mind

reason

soul

will

stoicism

attention

conscience

creativity

doctoral advisor

governing principle, n.Definitions

governing principle