Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

I will keep acting according to nature until I die. I will breathe my last breath into the same air that kept me alive all these years. I will fall back to the earth that gave my father his seed, my mother her blood, and my nurse her milk. This same earth has fed me and given me drink for so many years. It has carried me as I walked on it. It has put up with all the ways I have used it and abused it for my own purposes.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 4 Book 5 · 5 of 52
Death & Mortality Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

I continue my course by actions according to nature, until I fall and cease, breathing out my last breath into that air, by which continually breathed in I did live; and falling upon that earth, out of whose gifts and fruits my father gathered his seed, my mother her blood, and my nurse her milk, out of which for so many years I have been provided, both of meat and drink. And lastly, which beareth me that tread upon it, and beareth with me that so many ways do abuse it, or so freely make use of it, so many ways to so many ends.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 4 Book 5 · 5 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Think yourself worthy to speak or act according to nature. Don't let criticism or bad reports stop you. If something is right and honest to say or do, don't undervalue yourself so much that you're discouraged from it. Other people have their own reasoning and their own desires. You don't need to stand around watching what they think. Go straight where your own nature and the common good lead you. The path for both is the same.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 3 Book 5 · 4 of 52
Doing The Right Thing Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Think thyself fit and worthy to speak, or to do anything that is according to nature, and let not the reproach, or report of some that may ensue upon it, ever deter thee. If it be right and honest to be spoken or done, undervalue not thyself so much, as to be discouraged from it. As for them, they have their own rational over-ruling part, and their own proper inclination: which thou must not stand and look about to take notice of, but go on straight, whither both thine own particular, and the common nature do lead thee; and the way of both these, is but one.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 3 Book 5 · 4 of 52
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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