Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

It is very possible for someone to be a truly good person and yet be completely unknown. Always remember this. Also remember that real happiness comes from very few things. Even if you give up hope of ever being a good logician or scientist, you are no further away from being generous, humble, kind, or devoted to God.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 38 Book 7 · 51 of 58
What Matters Most Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

For it is a thing very possible, that a man should be a very divine man, and yet be altogether unknown. This thou must ever be mindful of, as of this also, that a man's true happiness doth consist in very few things. And that although thou dost despair, that thou shalt ever be a good either logician, or naturalist, yet thou art never the further off by it from being either liberal, or modest, or charitable, or obedient unto God.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 38 Book 7 · 51 of 58
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The thing we should really ask is this: what kind of soul did Socrates have? Was he the type of person who cared about only one thing in life — treating people fairly and honoring the gods? Did he refuse to waste energy getting upset about other people's wickedness? Did he avoid going along with anyone's bad actions or bad plans, whether out of fear or friendship? When things happened to him that were beyond his control, did he stay calm instead of being shocked or finding them unbearable? And finally, did he keep his mind separate from his body's feelings and desires? We shouldn't think that nature has mixed the soul so completely with the body that the soul can't set its own boundaries and focus on its own purposes.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 37 Book 7 · 50 of 58
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

The thing therefore that we must inquire into, is this; what manner of soul Socrates had: whether his disposition was such; as that all that he stood upon, and sought after in this world, was barely this, that he might ever carry himself justly towards men, and holily towards the Gods. Neither vexing himself to no purpose at the wickedness of others, nor yet ever condescending to any man's evil fact, or evil intentions, through either fear, or engagement of friendship. Whether of those things that happened unto him by God's appointment, he neither did wonder at any when it did happen, or thought it intolerable in the trial of it. And lastly, whether he never did suffer his mind to sympathise with the senses, and affections of the body. For we must not think that Nature hath so mixed and tempered it with the body, as that she hath not power to circumscribe herself, and by herself to intend her own ends and occasions.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 37 Book 7 · 50 of 58
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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