Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Change itself cannot harm you. And change cannot help you reach true being either. The world's history flows like a rushing river made up of all the events that happen. As soon as something appears and passes away, another thing takes its place. And that too will soon be gone.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 35 Book 4 · 44 of 54
Freedom & Control Death & Mortality
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

To suffer change can be no hurt; as no benefit it is, by change to attain to being. The age and time of the world is as it were a flood and swift current, consisting of the things that are brought to pass in the world. For as soon as anything hath appeared, and is passed away, another succeeds, and that also will presently out of sight.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 35 Book 4 · 44 of 54
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

What are you, apart from that better and divine part of yourself, but as Epictetus said well, a wretched soul stuck carrying a dead body around?

Meditations, Book 4, Section 34 Book 4 · 43 of 54
Knowing Yourself Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

What art thou, that better and divine part excepted, but as Epictetus said well, a wretched soul, appointed to carry a carcass up and down?

Meditations, Book 4, Section 34 Book 4 · 43 of 54
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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