Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

So watch your thoughts carefully. Make sure none of them are pointless or irrelevant. Most importantly, avoid thoughts that are nosy or mean-spirited. Train yourself to think only about things you could speak about openly. If someone suddenly asked what you were thinking, you should be able to answer honestly and boldly. Your thoughts should show that you are sincere and peaceful inside. This is how someone acts when they live for others, not just for pleasure or desire. Be free from fighting, envy, and suspicion. Be free from anything you would be ashamed to admit you were thinking about.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 4 Book 3 · 8 of 28
Knowing Yourself Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

See therefore in the whole series and connection of thy thoughts, that thou be careful to prevent whatsoever is idle and impertinent: but especially, whatsoever is curious and malicious: and thou must use thyself to think only of such things, of which if a man upon a sudden should ask thee, what it is that thou art now thinking, thou mayest answer This, and That, freely and boldly, that so by thy thoughts it may presently appear that in all thee is sincere, and peaceable; as becometh one that is made for society, and regards not pleasures, nor gives way to any voluptuous imaginations at all: free from all contentiousness, envy, and suspicion, and from whatsoever else thou wouldest blush to confess thy thoughts were set upon.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 4 Book 3 · 8 of 28
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Don't spend your remaining days thinking about other people unless it serves some common good. When you focus on others, it pulls you away from better work. Stop thinking about what this person is doing and why. Stop wondering what they say, think, or plan. These curiosities make you drift away from watching over the rational, ruling part of yourself.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 4 Book 3 · 7 of 28
What Matters Most Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Spend not the remnant of thy days in thoughts and fancies concerning other men, when it is not in relation to some common good, when by it thou art hindered from some other better work. That is, spend not thy time in thinking, what such a man doth, and to what end: what he saith, and what he thinks, and what he is about, and such other things or curiosities, which make a man to rove and wander from the care and observation of that part of himself, which is rational, and overruling.

Meditations, Book 3, Section 4 Book 3 · 7 of 28
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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