Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Always remember what Heraclitus said: earth dies and becomes water, water dies and becomes air, air dies and becomes fire, and so on in reverse. Also remember the person who didn't know where the path led. Think about this: reason governs everything in the world. People deal with it constantly and intimately. Yet it's the very thing they fight against most. The things that happen to them every day keep seeming strange to them. We shouldn't speak or act like people who are sleepwalking, driven by opinions and fantasies. When we do that, we only think we're speaking and acting. And we shouldn't be like children who just copy their parents, giving no better reason than "this is how we learned it" or "this is what our ancestors passed down to us."

Meditations, Book 4, Section 37 Book 4 · 46 of 54
Knowing Yourself Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Let that of Heraclitus never be out of thy mind, that the death of earth, is water, and the death of water, is air; and the death of air, is fire; and so on the contrary. Remember him also who was ignorant whither the way did lead, and how that reason being the thing by which all things in the world are administered, and which men are continually and most inwardly conversant with: yet is the thing, which ordinarily they are most in opposition with, and how those things which daily happen among them, cease not daily to be strange unto them, and that we should not either speak, or do anything as men in their sleep, by opinion and bare imagination: for then we think we speak and do, and that we must not be as children, who follow their father's example; for best reason alleging their bare καθότι παρειλήφαμεν; or, as by successive tradition from our forefathers we have received it.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 37 Book 4 · 46 of 54
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Whatever happens in the world is as natural and common as roses blooming in spring or fruit ripening in summer. Sickness and death are the same way. So are gossip and betrayal. All these things that make fools happy or sad are just ordinary parts of life. Whatever comes next always follows naturally from what came before. You must see the things of the world not as random separate events, but as a connected pattern that fits together in order. In the world's events, there is not just one thing after another. There is a beautiful connection and harmony.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 36 Book 4 · 45 of 54
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Whatsoever doth happen in the world, is, in the course of nature, as usual and ordinary as a rose in the spring, and fruit in summer. Of the same nature is sickness and death; slander, and lying in wait, and whatsoever else ordinarily doth unto fools use to be occasion either of joy or sorrow. That, whatsoever it is, that comes after, doth always very naturally, and as it were familiarly, follow upon that which was before. For thou must consider the things of the world, not as a loose independent number, consisting merely of necessary events; but as a discreet connection of things orderly and harmoniously disposed. There is then to be seen in the things of the world, not a bare succession, but an admirable correspondence and affinity.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 36 Book 4 · 45 of 54
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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