Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

To people with jaundice, honey tastes bitter. To people bitten by a rabid dog, water seems terrifying. To children, a little ball seems wonderful. So why should I be angry? Do I think false beliefs are less powerful in making people do wrong than bile is in causing jaundice, or poison is in causing madness?

Meditations, Book 6, Section 52 Book 6 · 62 of 64
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

To them that are sick of the jaundice, honey seems bitter; and to them that are bitten by a mad dog, the water terrible; and to children, a little ball seems a fine thing. And why then should I be angry? or do I think that error and false opinion is less powerful to make men transgress, than either choler, being immoderate and excessive, to cause the jaundice; or poison, to cause rage?

Meditations, Book 6, Section 52 Book 6 · 62 of 64
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

How many people who were born around the same time as me are already dead?

Meditations, Book 6, Section 51 Book 6 · 61 of 64
Death & Mortality
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

How many of them who came into the world at the same time when I did, are already gone out of it?

Meditations, Book 6, Section 51 Book 6 · 61 of 64
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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