Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Look back at history — at how kingdoms and governments have changed over and over again. You can also see the future, because it will all be the same kind of thing. Nothing can break away from this pattern that has already started with what happens now. So it makes no difference whether you watch life for forty years or ten thousand years. What more would you see?

Meditations, Book 7, Section 27 Book 7 · 34 of 58
What Matters Most Death & Mortality
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

To look back upon things of former ages, as upon the manifold changes and conversions of several monarchies and commonwealths. We may also foresee things future, for they shall all be of the same kind; neither is it possible that they should leave the tune, or break the concert that is now begun, as it were, by these things that are now done and brought to pass in the world. It comes all to one therefore, whether a man be a spectator of the things of this life but forty years, or whether he see them ten thousand years together: for what shall he see more?

Meditations, Book 7, Section 27 Book 7 · 34 of 58
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Look up at the stars and planets, and imagine yourself moving with them. Think constantly about how the elements change into one another. Such thoughts help clean away the mess and dirt of earthly life. Plato also wrote beautifully about this. He said we should look down on worldly things from a higher place — flocks of sheep, armies, farmers working, weddings, divorces, births, deaths, court battles, empty places, foreign nations, festivals, funerals, fairs, markets. Everything on earth is jumbled together. Yet somehow these opposite things work together to make the universe beautiful and complete.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 26 Book 7 · 33 of 58
What Matters Most Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

To look about, and with the eyes to follow the course of the stars and planets as though thou wouldst run with them; and to mind perpetually the several changes of the elements one into another. For such fancies and imaginations, help much to purge away the dross and filth of this our earthly life,' &c. That also is a fine passage of Plato's, where he speaketh of worldly things in these words: 'Thou must also as from some higher place look down, as it were, upon the things of this world, as flocks, armies, husbandmen's labours, marriages, divorces, generations, deaths: the tumults of courts and places of judicatures; desert places; the several nations of barbarians, public festivals, mournings, fairs, markets.' How all things upon earth are pell-mell; and how miraculously things contrary one to another, concur to the beauty and perfection of this universe.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 26 Book 7 · 33 of 58
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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