Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

You must comfort yourself by expecting your natural death, and in the meantime not worry about the delay. Be content with two things. First, nothing will happen to you that goes against the nature of the universe. Second, you have the power to do nothing against your own inner god and spirit. No one can force you to act against your true self.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 10 Book 5 · 20 of 52
Death & Mortality Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Thou must comfort thyself in the expectation of thy natural dissolution, and in the meantime not grieve at the delay; but rest contented in those two things. First, that nothing shall happen unto thee, which is not according to the nature of the universe. Secondly, that it is in thy power, to do nothing against thine own proper God, and inward spirit. For it is not in any man's power to constrain thee to transgress against him.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 10 Book 5 · 20 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Now think about the people you spend time with every day. How hard it is to put up with them, even the ones we love most! I won't even mention how hard it is to put up with ourselves. Everything is so unclear and messy. Everything keeps changing — the things themselves, time, movement, the things that move. What is there to hold onto? What should we really honor or chase after? I can't even figure it out. It all seems to contradict itself.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 9 Book 5 · 19 of 52
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Pass from thence to the dispositions of them that thou doest ordinarily converse with, how hardly do we bear, even with the most loving and amiable! that I may not say, how hard it is for us to bear even with our own selves, in such obscurity, and impurity of things: in such and so continual a flux both of the substances and time; both of the motions themselves, and things moved; what it is that we can fasten upon; either to honour, and respect especially; or seriously, and studiously to seek after; I cannot so much as conceive For indeed they are things contrary.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 9 Book 5 · 19 of 52
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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