Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

What am I doing with my soul right now? You need to ask yourself this question regularly. What is my rational mind focused on at this moment? Whose soul do I have? A child's soul? A young person's? A woman's? A tyrant's? The soul of some animal or wild beast?

Meditations, Book 5, Section 11 Book 5 · 21 of 52
Knowing Yourself Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

What is the use that now at this present I make of my soul? Thus from time to time and upon all occasions thou must put this question to thyself; what is now that part of mine which they call the rational mistress part, employed about? Whose soul do I now properly possess? a child's? or a youth's? a woman's? or a tyrant's? some brute, or some wild beast's soul?

Meditations, Book 5, Section 11 Book 5 · 21 of 52
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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