Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

You have complete power to shut out all thoughts and opinions about this matter. You can also shut out all grief and sorrow from your soul. The things and events themselves have no power to force any opinion on us.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 47 Book 6 · 57 of 64
Freedom & Control Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

It is in thy power absolutely to exclude all manner of conceit and opinion, as concerning this matter; and by the same means, to exclude all grief and sorrow from thy soul. For as for the things and objects themselves, they of themselves have no such power, whereby to beget and force upon us any opinion at all.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 47 Book 6 · 57 of 64
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The ambitious person thinks happiness comes from other people's praise and applause. The pleasure-seeker thinks it comes from physical sensations. But the wise person knows happiness comes from his own actions.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 46 Book 6 · 56 of 64
Knowing Yourself What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

The ambitious supposeth another man's act, praise and applause, to be his own happiness; the voluptuous his own sense and feeling; but he that is wise, his own action.

Meditations, Book 6, Section 46 Book 6 · 56 of 64
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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