Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

But what if there are no gods, or they don't care about the world? Why would I want to live in a world without gods and without divine care? But there are gods, and they do care for the world. As for things that are truly evil — like vice and wickedness — they have put these in our own power so we can avoid them if we choose. If there were anything else that was truly bad and harmful, they would have given us power over that too.

Meditations, Book 2, Section 8 Book 2 · 8 of 20
Doing The Right Thing Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

But if it be so that there be no gods, or that they take no care of the world, why should I desire to live in a world void of gods, and of all divine providence? But gods there be certainly, and they take care for the world; and as for those things which be truly evil, as vice and wickedness, such things they have put in a man's own power, that he might avoid them if he would: and had there been anything besides that had been truly bad and evil, they would have had a care of that also, that a man might have avoided it.

Meditations, Book 2, Section 8 Book 2 · 8 of 20
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Whatever you want to do, whatever you plan to do, do it all as someone who might die right now. And as for death, if there are gods, leaving human society is nothing terrible. You can be sure the gods will not harm you.

Meditations, Book 2, Section 8 Book 2 · 7 of 20
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Whatsoever thou dost affect, whatsoever thou dost project, so do, and so project all, as one who, for aught thou knowest, may at this very present depart out of this life. And as for death, if there be any gods, it is no grievous thing to leave the society of men. The gods will do thee no hurt, thou mayest be sure.

Meditations, Book 2, Section 8 Book 2 · 7 of 20
‹ Previous Next ›

Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

About · Support