Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

What is happiness? It's having a good spirit within you. So what are you doing here, false opinion? I swear by the gods, go away like you came. I don't need you. You came to me in your old familiar way. This is what all people have always dealt with. I'm not angry that you came. I just want you gone now that I see what you really are.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 14 Book 7 · 16 of 58
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

What is εὐδαιμονία, or happiness: but ἀγαθὸς δαίμων, or, a good dæmon, or spirit? What then dost thou do here, O opinion? By the Gods I adjure thee, that thou get thee gone, as thou earnest: for I need thee not. Thou earnest indeed unto me according to thy ancient wonted manner. It is that, that all men have ever been subject unto. That thou camest therefore I am not angry with thee, only begone, now that I have found thee what thou art.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 14 Book 7 · 16 of 58
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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