Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Who can help but wonder at people like this? They will not speak well of those who live alongside them right now. Yet they desperately want future generations — people they have never seen and will never see — to speak well of them. It's like grieving because people who lived before you didn't praise you.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 17 Book 6 · 20 of 64
Human Nature What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Who can choose but wonder at them? They will not speak well of them that are at the same time with them, and live with them; yet they themselves are very ambitious, that they that shall follow, whom they have never seen, nor shall ever see, should speak well of them. As if a man should grieve that he hath not been commended by them, that lived before him.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 17 Book 6 · 20 of 64
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Below, above, and all around, the elements are in motion. But virtue moves differently. Its motion is something higher and more divine. To make progress in virtue, you must follow a path that is not easily understood.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 16 Book 6 · 19 of 64
Doing The Right Thing What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Under, above, and about, are the motions of the elements; but the motion of virtue, is none of those motions, but is somewhat more excellent and divine. Whose way (to speed and prosper in it) must be through a way, that is not easily comprehended.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 16 Book 6 · 19 of 64
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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