Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

But the soul is the only part that truly feels fear or grief. The soul is the only part that can choose to accept these feelings or reject them based on its thoughts and beliefs. You can make sure your soul suffers nothing. Don't let it form harmful opinions. The mind is complete by itself. It needs nothing else, if it doesn't create its own needs. Since it needs nothing, nothing can trouble or block it — unless it troubles and blocks itself.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 13 Book 7 · 15 of 58
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

But as for the soul, which indeed, can only be truly sensible of either fear or grief; to which only it belongs according to its different imaginations and opinions, to admit of either of these, or of their contraries; thou mayst look to that thyself, that it suffer nothing. Induce her not to any such opinion or persuasion. The understanding is of itself sufficient unto itself, and needs not (if itself doth not bring itself to need) any other thing besides itself, and by consequent as it needs nothing, so neither can it be troubled or hindered by anything, if itself doth not trouble and hinder itself.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 13 Book 7 · 15 of 58
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

This can always comfort me and keep me secure: my mind, which rules over everything, will not bring trouble on itself. It will not put itself in fear. It will not lead itself into harmful desires. If someone else has the power to make it fear or grieve, then let them use that power. But if my mind does not incline itself toward such feelings through some false belief, then there is nothing to fear. As for the body, why should I make the pain of my body into the pain of my mind? If the body can fear or complain, let it.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 13 Book 7 · 14 of 58
Freedom & Control Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

This may ever be my comfort and security: my understanding, that ruleth over all, will not of itself bring trouble and vexation upon itself. This I say; it will not put itself in any fear, it will not lead itself into any concupiscence. If it be in the power of any other to compel it to fear, or to grieve, it is free for him to use his power. But sure if itself do not of itself, through some false opinion or supposition incline itself to any such disposition; there is no fear. For as for the body, why should I make the grief of my body, to be the grief of my mind? If that itself can either fear or complain, let it.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 13 Book 7 · 14 of 58
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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