Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

A man is happy to hear that what comedians say on stage is just common talk that everyone understands. Why else would it be fine when virtues are called good, but when someone praises wealth, pleasure, or honor, we take it as just a joke? Keep thinking about this. Consider whether those things that get mocked on stage might actually reveal something true. The comedians joke that rich people have so much stuff they don't even have a private place to relieve themselves. Maybe those jokes show us that these things we chase aren't really worth much at all.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 12 Book 5 · 23 of 52
What Matters Most Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

He is well contented to hear, that what is spoken by the comedian, is but familiarly and popularly spoken, so that even the vulgar apprehend the difference. For why is it else, that this offends not and needs not to be excused, when virtues are styled good: but that which is spoken in commendation of wealth, pleasure, or honour, we entertain it only as merrily and pleasantly spoken? Proceed therefore, and inquire further, whether it may not be that those things also which being mentioned upon the stage were merrily, and with great applause of the multitude, scoffed at with this jest, that they that possessed them had not in all the world of their own, (such was their affluence and plenty) so much as a place where to avoid their excrements. Whether, I say, those ought not also in very deed to be much respected, and esteemed of, as the only things that are truly good.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 12 Book 5 · 23 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

You can tell what things are truly good from this test. When someone hears real goods mentioned — wisdom, self-control, justice, courage — they feel satisfied. The word 'good' fits perfectly. They don't need to hear more. But when people hear the things that most others call good, they keep listening for something else. They want more.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 12 Book 5 · 22 of 52
What Matters Most Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

What those things are in themselves, which by the greatest part are esteemed good, thou mayest gather even from this. For if a man shall hear things mentioned as good, which are really good indeed, such as are prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, after so much heard and conceived, he cannot endure to hear of any more, for the word good is properly spoken of them. But as for those which by the vulgar are esteemed good, if he shall hear them mentioned as good, he doth hearken for more.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 12 Book 5 · 22 of 52
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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