Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Hippocrates cured many sick people, then got sick himself and died. The Chaldeans and astrologers predicted when others would die, but fate surprised them too. Alexander, Pompeius, and Julius Caesar destroyed many cities and killed thousands of soldiers. But in the end, they all had to give up their own lives. Heraclitus wrote many books about how the world would end in fire. Then he died with his body full of water and covered in filth. Lice killed Democritus. And Socrates was killed by another kind of pest — wicked, godless men.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 3 Book 3 · 5 of 28
Death & Mortality Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Hippocrates having cured many sicknesses, fell sick himself and died. The Chaldeans and Astrologians having foretold the deaths of divers, were afterwards themselves surprised by the fates. Alexander and Pompeius, and Caius Cæsar, having destroyed so many towns, and cut off in the field so many thousands both of horse and foot, yet they themselves at last were fain to part with their own lives. Heraclitus having written so many natural tracts concerning the last and general conflagration of the world, died afterwards all filled with water within, and all bedaubed with dirt and dung without. Lice killed Democritus; and Socrates, another sort of vermin, wicked ungodly men.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 3 Book 3 · 5 of 28
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

If you look at the world with deep attention, you will find beauty even in things that seem like mere extras or side effects. You will see the bared teeth of wild animals as beautiful as any painting. You will see the real beauty in old age, whether in men or women. With pure eyes, you will quickly spot whatever is beautiful and appealing in anything that exists. You will see these things and many others that most people cannot see — only those who truly know nature and natural things will understand.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 2 Book 3 · 4 of 28
Calm Your Mind What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

so that if a man shall with a profound mind and apprehension, consider all things in the world, even among all those things which are but mere accessories and natural appendices as it were, there will scarce appear anything unto him, wherein he will not find matter of pleasure and delight. So will he behold with as much pleasure the true _rictus_ of wild beasts, as those which by skilful painters and other artificers are imitated. So will he be able to perceive the proper ripeness and beauty of old age, whether in man or woman: and whatsoever else it is that is beautiful and alluring in whatsoever is, with chaste and continent eyes he will soon find out and discern. Those and many other things will he discern, not credible unto every one, but unto them only who are truly and familiarly acquainted, both with nature itself, and all natural things.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 2 Book 3 · 4 of 28
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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