Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Remember all the things you have already gone through, and how much you have been able to endure. The story of your life is already full, and you have done your duty. Think of how many truly good things you have recognized. How many pleasures and pains you have dismissed as unimportant. How many supposedly glorious things you have seen through and rejected. How kindly and wisely you have treated difficult, unreasonable people.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 25 Book 5 · 45 of 52
Knowing Yourself Facing Hardship
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Remember withal through how many things thou hast already passed, and how many thou hast been able to endure; so that now the legend of thy life is full, and thy charge is accomplished. Again, how many truly good things have certainly by thee been discerned? how many pleasures, how many pains hast thou passed over with contempt? how many things eternally glorious hast thou despised? towards how many perverse unreasonable men hast thou carried thyself kindly, and discreetly?

Meditations, Book 5, Section 25 Book 5 · 45 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

How have you treated the gods so far? How have you treated your parents, your brothers and sisters, your wife, your children? What about your teachers, those who raised you, your friends, your household, your servants? Can you honestly say you have never wronged any of them in word or deed?

Meditations, Book 5, Section 25 Book 5 · 44 of 52
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

How hast thou carried thyself hitherto towards the Gods? towards thy parents? towards thy brethren? towards thy wife? towards thy children? towards thy masters? thy foster-fathers? thy friends? thy domestics? thy servants? Is it so with thee, that hitherto thou hast neither by word or deed wronged any of them?

Meditations, Book 5, Section 25 Book 5 · 44 of 52
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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