Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

A horse after a race, a hunting dog after the hunt, a bee after making honey — none of them look for praise. The same goes for someone who truly understands their nature. When they do good, they simply move on to the next good deed. Like a vine that bears fruit in season and then gets ready to bear fruit again. You must be one of those people who just does what needs doing, without thinking about it, almost unaware of your own good actions.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 6 Book 5 · 9 of 52
Doing The Right Thing Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

As a horse after a race, and a hunting dog when he hath hunted, and a bee when she hath made her honey, look not for applause and commendation; so neither doth that man that rightly doth understand his own nature when he hath done a good turn: but from one doth proceed to do another, even as the vine after she hath once borne fruit in her own proper season, is ready for another time. Thou therefore must be one of them, who what they do, barely do it without any further thought, and are in a manner insensible of what they do.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 6 Book 5 · 9 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Some people do a good deed and immediately expect something back. They keep score and demand payment. Others don't ask for anything in return, but they still think the person owes them. They remember exactly what they did. Then there are those who do good and don't even think about it afterward. They're like a grapevine that produces grapes and is satisfied with that — it doesn't look for any reward.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 6 Book 5 · 8 of 52
Doing The Right Thing Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Such there be, who when they have done a good turn to any, are ready to set them on the score for it, and to require retaliation. Others there be, who though they stand not upon retaliation, to require any, yet they think with themselves nevertheless, that such a one is their debtor, and they know as their word is what they have done. Others again there be, who when they have done any such thing, do not so much as know what they have done; but are like unto the vine, which beareth her grapes, and when once she hath borne her own proper fruit, is contented and seeks for no further recompense.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 6 Book 5 · 8 of 52
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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