Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

But, noble friend, think about this: doesn't true greatness and real happiness come from something other than just staying alive — whether for ourselves or others? A real man doesn't try to live as long as possible or cling to life. Instead, he trusts the gods completely. He knows what even women understand: that no one escapes death. So he focuses on just one thing — living well and doing right for whatever time he has.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 26 Book 7 · 32 of 58
Death & Mortality Doing The Right Thing What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

But, O noble sir, consider I pray, whether true generosity and true happiness, do not consist in somewhat else rather, than in the preservation either of our, or other men's lives. For it is not the part of a man that is a man indeed, to desire to live long or to make much of his life whilst he liveth: but rather (he that is such) will in these things wholly refer himself unto the Gods, and believing that which every woman can tell him, that no man can escape death; the only thing that he takes thought and care for is this, that what time he liveth, he may live as well and as virtuously as he can possibly, &c.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 26 Book 7 · 32 of 58
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

From Plato. 'My answer, full of justice, should be this: You are wrong if you think a man of any worth should worry about life or death as great dangers. He should care only about one thing: examining his own actions. Are they just or unjust? Are they the actions of a good man or a wicked man? Here is the truth, men of Athens. Whatever position a man has chosen for himself, thinking it best, or whatever position lawful authority has placed him in — there he should stay. He should fear neither death nor anything else as much as he fears doing something shameful or wrong.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 26 Book 7 · 31 of 58
Doing The Right Thing Death & Mortality
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Out of Plato. 'My answer, full of justice and equity, should be this: Thy speech is not right, O man! if thou supposest that he that is of any worth at all, should apprehend either life or death, as a matter of great hazard and danger; and should not make this rather his only care, to examine his own actions, whether just or unjust: whether actions of a good, or of a wicked man, &c. For thus in very truth stands the case, O ye men of Athens. What place or station soever a man either hath chosen to himself, judging it best for himself; or is by lawful authority put and settled in, therein do I think (all appearance of danger notwithstanding) that he should continue, as one who feareth neither death, nor anything else, so much as he feareth to commit anything that is vicious and shameful, &c.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 26 Book 7 · 31 of 58
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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