Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Keep yourself simple, good, honest, serious, and free from showing off. Love what is just. Be religious, kind, and tender-hearted. Be strong enough to handle whatever duty requires of you. Try to stay the way philosophy would have made you if you had followed it completely. Honor the gods and help other people. This life is short. Kind actions and a holy heart are the only real rewards of earthly life.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 27 Book 6 · 31 of 64
Doing The Right Thing What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Keep thyself therefore, truly simple, good, sincere, grave, free from all ostentation, a lover of that which is just, religious, kind, tender-hearted, strong and vigorous to undergo anything that becomes thee. Endeavour to continue such, as philosophy (hadst thou wholly and constantly applied thyself unto it) would have made, and secured thee. Worship the Gods, procure the welfare of men, this life is short. Charitable actions, and a holy disposition, is the only fruit of this earthly life.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 27 Book 6 · 31 of 64
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

If your body can handle this kind of life, it would be shameful for your soul to give up first. Be careful that you don't stop being a philosopher and become just another Caesar, stained by the corruption of court life. This can happen if you're not careful.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 27 Book 6 · 30 of 64
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

If in this kind of life thy body be able to hold out, it is a shame that thy soul should faint first, and give over, take heed, lest of a philosopher thou become a mere Cæsar in time, and receive a new tincture from the court. For it may happen if thou dost not take heed.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 27 Book 6 · 30 of 64
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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