Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

If you lived three thousand years, or even ten thousand, remember this: you can only lose the life you are living right now. The life you live is nothing more than what you lose moment by moment. So the longest life and the shortest life come to the same thing. The past may differ between people, but the present moment is equal for everyone. This present moment is what we lose when we die. So clearly, we only lose an instant. You cannot lose what is past or future. How can you lose what you do not have?

Meditations, Book 2, Section 12 Book 2 · 14 of 20
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

If thou shouldst live three thousand, or as many as ten thousands of years, yet remember this, that man can part with no life properly, save with that little part of life, which he now lives: and that which he lives, is no other, than that which at every instant he parts with. That then which is longest of duration, and that which is shortest, come both to one effect. For although in regard of that which is already past there may be some inequality, yet that time which is now present and in being, is equal unto all men. And that being it which we part with whensoever we die, it doth manifestly appear, that it can be but a moment of time, that we then part with. For as for that which is either past or to come, a man cannot be said properly to part with it. For how should a man part with that which he hath not?

Meditations, Book 2, Section 12 Book 2 · 14 of 20
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

True service means keeping yourself free from violent emotions and bad feelings. Stay away from rashness and vanity. Don't be discontent with the gods or with people. Whatever comes from the gods deserves respect because they are worthy and excellent. Whatever comes from people should be met with love, since they are our family. Sometimes we should feel pity and compassion too — because people act from ignorance about what is truly good and bad. This ignorance is like being unable to tell white from black.

Meditations, Book 2, Section 11 Book 2 · 13 of 20
Doing The Right Thing Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

His service doth consist in this, that a man keep himself pure from all violent passion and evil affection, from all rashness and vanity, and from all manner of discontent, either in regard of the gods or men. For indeed whatsoever proceeds from the gods, deserves respect for their worth and excellency; and whatsoever proceeds from men, as they are our kinsmen, should by us be entertained, with love, always; sometimes, as proceeding from their ignorance, of that which is truly good and bad, (a blindness no less, than that by which we are not able to discern between white and black:) with a kind of pity and compassion also.

Meditations, Book 2, Section 11 Book 2 · 13 of 20
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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