Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The rational force that governs the universe exists for community and society. It has made worse things serve the best things. It has joined the best things together in harmony. Don't you see how it has organized everything? How it has given each thing what it deserves? The things that are most excellent — it has united them in mutual agreement.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 24 Book 5 · 43 of 52
Human Nature What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

That rational essence by which the universe is governed, is for community and society; and therefore hath it both made the things that are worse, for the best, and hath allied and knit together those which are best, as it were in an harmony. Seest thou not how it hath sub-ordinated, and co-ordinated? and how it hath distributed unto everything according to its worth? and those which have the pre-eminency and superiority above all, hath it united together, into a mutual consent and agreement.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 24 Book 5 · 43 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

You dream of a place 'where there are no loud troublemakers or prostitutes.' But why wait? You can live with that same peace right here, even surrounded by difficult people. If they really won't let you live according to your principles, you can choose to die rather than abandon what's right. But don't think of yourself as wronged. Just say, 'There's smoke here; I'll step outside.' What's the big deal? Until something forces me out, I'll stay free. No one can stop me from doing what I choose. And what I choose will always be guided by my nature as a thinking, social being.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 23 Book 5 · 42 of 52
Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

'Where there shall neither roarer be, nor harlot.' Why so? As thou dost purpose to live, when thou hast retired thyself to some such place, where neither roarer nor harlot is: so mayest thou here. And if they will not suffer thee, then mayest thou leave thy life rather than thy calling, but so as one that doth not think himself anyways wronged. Only as one would say, Here is a smoke; I will out of it. And what a great matter is this! Now till some such thing force me out, I will continue free; neither shall any man hinder me to do what I will, and my will shall ever be by the proper nature of a reasonable and sociable creature, regulated and directed.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 23 Book 5 · 42 of 52
‹ Previous Next ›

Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

About · Support