Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Don't get discouraged or lose hope when you often fail to live up to your principles perfectly. When you fall short, just come back to them again. You will face many distractions from the world and human weaknesses — this is normal for any person. Don't be upset about this. Just love the one thing you can always return to: living like a philosopher and doing your proper work with care. When you come back to philosophy, don't treat it like a chore — the way some students reluctantly return to their teachers after playing. Instead, approach it like someone with sore eyes reaching for a soothing compress, or like a patient applying healing medicine. Don't make following reason into a show for others. Make it your comfort and relief.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 9 Book 5 · 16 of 52
Knowing Yourself Facing Hardship
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Be not discontented, be not disheartened, be not out of hope, if often it succeed not so well with thee punctually and precisely to do all things according to the right dogmata, but being once cast off, return unto them again: and as for those many and more frequent occurrences, either of worldly distractions, or human infirmities, which as a man thou canst not but in some measure be subject unto, be not thou discontented with them; but however, love and affect that only which thou dust return unto: a philosopher's life, and proper occupation after the most exact manner. And when thou dust return to thy philosophy, return not unto it as the manner of some is, after play and liberty as it were, to their schoolmasters and pedagogues; but as they that have sore eyes to their sponge and egg: or as another to his cataplasm; or as others to their fomentations: so shalt not thou make it a matter of ostentation at all to obey reason but of ease and comfort.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 9 Book 5 · 16 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

For two reasons, then, you should be content with whatever happens to you. First, it was meant for you specifically. It was assigned to you from the very beginning through the chain of causes that led to this moment. Second, the success and health of the one who runs the universe depends on it in some way. The whole universe is complete and perfect. But if you cut away any part, you damage it. You break the connections between its parts and between its causes. And you do cut something away — as much as you can — every time you resent what happens.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 8 Book 5 · 15 of 52
Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

For these two considerations then thou must be well pleased with anything that doth happen unto thee. First, because that for thee properly it was brought to pass, and unto thee it was prescribed; and that from the very beginning by the series and connection of the first causes, it hath ever had a reference unto thee. And secondly, because the good success and perfect welfare, and indeed the very continuance of Him, that is the Administrator of the whole, doth in a manner depend on it. For the whole (because whole, therefore entire and perfect) is maimed, and mutilated, if thou shalt cut off anything at all, whereby the coherence, and contiguity as of parts, so of causes, is maintained and preserved. Of which certain it is, that thou doest (as much as lieth in thee) cut off, and in some sort violently take somewhat away, as often as thou art displeased with anything that happeneth.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 8 Book 5 · 15 of 52
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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