Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Try your best to persuade them. But if reason and justice call you to act, do it even if they are completely against it. If someone uses force to stop you, shift your virtue from one thing to another. Move from justice to calm acceptance and patient good humor. What blocks you in one area can help you practice another virtue. Remember that you began with proper conditions and limits in mind. You never set your heart on impossible things. What did you want then? That all your desires would be guided by this kind of wise restraint. You have this now and can always have it, whether you get what you want or not. What more do I need? I was born to rule my desires with reason and good judgment. That's enough.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 45 Book 6 · 55 of 64
Doing The Right Thing Facing Hardship Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Let us do our best endeavours to persuade them; but however, if reason and justice lead thee to it, do it, though they be never so much against it. But if any shall by force withstand thee, and hinder thee in it, convert thy virtuous inclination from one object unto another, from justice to contented equanimity, and cheerful patience: so that what in the one is thy hindrance, thou mayst make use of it for the exercise of another virtue: and remember that it was with due exception, and reservation, that thou didst at first incline and desire. For thou didst not set thy mind upon things impossible. Upon what then? that all thy desires might ever be moderated with this due kind of reservation. And this thou hast, and mayst always obtain, whether the thing desired be in thy power or no. And what do I care for more, if that for which I was born and brought forth into the world (to rule all my desires with reason and discretion) may be?

Meditations, Book 6, Section 45 Book 6 · 55 of 64
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Do you feel bad that you weigh only so many pounds instead of three hundred? Then you have just as much reason to feel bad that you live only so many years instead of longer. You accept the body size that was given to you. You should accept your lifespan the same way.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 44 Book 6 · 54 of 64
Death & Mortality Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Dost thou grieve that thou dost weigh but so many pounds, and not three hundred rather? Just as much reason hast thou to grieve that thou must live but so many years, and not longer. For as for bulk and substance thou dost content thyself with that proportion of it that is allotted unto thee, so shouldst thou for time.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 44 Book 6 · 54 of 64
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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