Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Someone takes care of another person's funeral, then soon after gets buried himself. One person after another — and all of it happens so quickly. This is the key point: look at all worldly things as lasting only a day. And see them as worthless and disgusting. What is a human being? Just the other day he was disgusting slime at conception. In a few days he will be either an embalmed corpse or just ashes. You must think about this honestly and naturally — that human life lasts only a moment. Then you can leave peacefully and satisfied, like a ripe olive that falls and praises the ground that held it up, and thanks the tree that made it.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 39 Book 4 · 49 of 54
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Such and such a one took care of such and such a one's burial, and soon after was buried himself. So one, so another: and all things in a short time. For herein lieth all indeed, ever to look upon all worldly things, as things for their continuance, that are but for a day: and for their worth, most vile, and contemptible, as for example, What is man? That which but the other day when he was conceived was vile snivel; and within few days shall be either an embalmed carcass, or mere ashes. Thus must thou according to truth and nature, throughly consider how man's life is but for a very moment of time, and so depart meek and contented: even as if a ripe olive falling should praise the ground that bare her, and give thanks to the tree that begat her.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 39 Book 4 · 49 of 54
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Make this your constant thought: how many doctors who once looked so stern and dramatically frowned at their patients are now dead themselves. How many fortune-tellers who proudly predicted other people's deaths are gone. How many philosophers who wrote long books about death and eternal life have died. How many brave generals who killed so many others in battle are dead. How many kings and tyrants who brutally abused their power over people's lives — as if they would live forever — are now gone. And how many entire cities have vanished: Helice, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and countless others. Think also of all the people you have watched die in your own lifetime, one after another.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 39 Book 4 · 48 of 54
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Let it be thy perpetual meditation, how many physicians who once looked so grim, and so theatrically shrunk their brows upon their patients, are dead and gone themselves. How many astrologers, after that in great ostentation they had foretold the death of some others, how many philosophers after so many elaborate tracts and volumes concerning either mortality or immortality; how many brave captains and commanders, after the death and slaughter of so many; how many kings and tyrants, after they had with such horror and insolency abused their power upon men's lives, as though themselves had been immortal; how many, that I may so speak, whole cities both men and towns: Helice, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and others innumerable are dead and gone. Run them over also, whom thou thyself, one after another, hast known in thy time to drop away.

Meditations, Book 4, Section 39 Book 4 · 48 of 54
‹ Previous Next ›

Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

About · Support