Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Whatever happens in the world happens justly. If you pay close attention, you will see this. I don't just mean things follow in logical order. I mean they happen according to real justice — like fair distribution based on true worth. Keep watching for this pattern, as you have started to do. And whatever you do, make sure it's something a truly good person would do. Pay careful attention to this in every action.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 8 Book 4 · 12 of 54
Doing The Right Thing Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Whatsoever doth happen in the world, doth happen justly, and so if thou dost well take heed, thou shalt find it. I say not only in right order by a series of inevitable consequences, but according to justice and as it were by way of equal distribution, according to the true worth of everything. Continue then to take notice of it, as thou hast begun, and whatsoever thou dost, do it not without this proviso, that it be a thing of that nature that a good man (as the word good is properly taken) may do it. This observe carefully in every action.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 8 Book 4 · 12 of 54
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Take away opinion, and no one will think they've been wronged. If no one thinks they've been wronged, then there's no such thing as being wronged. What doesn't make a person worse can't make their life worse. It can't hurt them inside or outside. Nature made it this way on purpose, so it had to be this way.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 7 Book 4 · 11 of 54
Freedom & Control Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Let opinion be taken away, and no man will think himself wronged. If no man shall think himself wronged, then is there no more any such thing as wrong. That which makes not man himself the worse, cannot make his life the worse, neither can it hurt him either inwardly or outwardly. It was expedient in nature that it should be so, and therefore necessary.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 7 Book 4 · 11 of 54
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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