Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Your mind becomes what you think about most. The soul takes its color from your thoughts and imaginings. So dye it deep with constant good thinking. For example: wherever you live, you have the power to live well and be happy. You might live at the royal court — well, you can live well and be happy there too.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 15 Book 5 · 28 of 52
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Such as thy thoughts and ordinary cogitations are, such will thy mind be in time. For the soul doth as it were receive its tincture from the fancies, and imaginations. Dye it therefore and thoroughly soak it with the assiduity of these cogitations. As for example. Wheresoever thou mayest live, there it is in thy power to live well and happy. But thou mayest live at the Court, there then also mayest thou live well and happy.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 15 Book 5 · 28 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Think about the things of this world. If any of them truly belonged to us as human beings, then it would be wrong to reject them or oppose them. A person who can live without them wouldn't deserve praise. And if these things were truly good, then someone who gives them up willingly wouldn't be good either. But we see the opposite is true. The more someone pulls away from external status and wealth — or similar things — the better we think of them. And the better they handle losing these things, the more we respect them.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 14 Book 5 · 27 of 52
What Matters Most Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Again, concerning these outward worldly things, were it so that any of them did properly belong unto man, then would it not belong unto man, to condemn them and to stand in opposition with them. Neither would he be praiseworthy that can live without them; or he good, (if these were good indeed) who of his own accord doth deprive himself of any of them. But we see contrariwise, that the more a man doth withdraw himself from these wherein external pomp and greatness doth consist, or any other like these; or the better he doth bear with the loss of these, the better he is accounted.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 14 Book 5 · 27 of 52
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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