Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Just as doctors and surgeons keep their tools ready for emergencies, you should keep your principles ready for understanding both divine and human matters. Whatever you do, even the smallest things, remember the connection between the divine and the human. You will never succeed in worldly matters without considering God. And you will never succeed in divine matters without considering human things.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 14 Book 3 · 24 of 28
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

As physicians and chirurgeons have always their instruments ready at hand for all sudden cures; so have thou always thy dogmata in a readiness for the knowledge of things, both divine and human: and whatsoever thou dost, even in the smallest things that thou dost, thou must ever remember that mutual relation, and connection that is between these two things divine, and things human. For without relation unto God, thou shalt never speed in any worldly actions; nor on the other side in any divine, without some respect had to things human.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 14 Book 3 · 24 of 28
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

If you focus on what is right in front of you, following what is right and reasonable with care, steadiness, and gentleness — if you don't mix in other distractions but work only to keep your spirit clean and pure, and stick close to what is right without hoping for rewards or fearing consequences — if you content yourself with simple, honest truth in everything you do or say, then you will live happily. And no one can stop you from this.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 13 Book 3 · 23 of 28
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

If thou shalt intend that which is present, following the rule of right and reason carefully, solidly, meekly, and shalt not intermix any other businesses, but shall study this only to preserve thy spirit unpolluted, and pure, and shall cleave unto him without either hope or fear of anything, in all things that thou shalt either do or speak, contenting thyself with heroical truth, thou shalt live happily; and from this, there is no man that can hinder thee.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 13 Book 3 · 23 of 28
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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