Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Don't imagine future things as if they were happening now. Instead, take some of the good things you have right now. Think about them carefully. Notice how much you would miss them if they were gone. But be careful not to become so attached to these present things that losing them would upset you. Turn your attention inward. Your rational mind works in a special way. When it acts with justice and finds peace within itself, it needs nothing else to be satisfied.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 20 Book 7 · 23 of 58
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Fancy not to thyself things future, as though they were present but of those that are present, take some aside, that thou takest most benefit of, and consider of them particularly, how wonderfully thou wouldst want them, if they were not present. But take heed withal, lest that whilst thou dust settle thy contentment in things present, thou grow in time so to overprize them, as that the want of them (whensoever it shall so fall out) should be a trouble and a vexation unto thee. Wind up thyself into thyself. Such is the nature of thy reasonable commanding part, as that if it exercise justice, and have by that means tranquillity within itself, it doth rest fully satisfied with itself without any other thing.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 20 Book 7 · 23 of 58
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

When someone wrongs you, ask yourself what they thought was good or bad when they did it. Once you know this, you will pity them. You will not wonder or get angry. Either you still live with the same mistake they do — thinking the same thing is good, or something like it — and then you must forgive them since you would do the same thing. Or you no longer think those things are good or bad like they do. Then how can you not be gentle with someone who is confused?

Meditations, Book 7, Section 19 Book 7 · 22 of 58
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Whensoever any man doth trespass against other, presently consider with thyself what it was that he did suppose to be good, what to be evil, when he did trespass. For this when thou knowest, thou wilt pity him thou wilt have no occasion either to wonder, or to be angry. For either thou thyself dust yet live in that error and ignorance, as that thou dust suppose either that very thing that he doth, or some other like worldly thing, to be good; and so thou art bound to pardon him if he have done that which thou in the like case wouldst have done thyself. Or if so be that thou dost not any more suppose the same things to be good or evil, that he doth; how canst thou but be gentle unto him that is in an error?

Meditations, Book 7, Section 19 Book 7 · 22 of 58
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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