Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

A person reaches perfection in how they live when they spend every day as if it were their last day. They are never too heated up in their emotions, but also not so cold and numb that they feel nothing. And they are completely free from pretense.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 40 Book 7 · 54 of 58
Knowing Yourself What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Then hath a man attained to the estate of perfection in his life and conversation, when he so spends every day, as if it were his last day: never hot and vehement in his affections, nor yet so cold and stupid as one that had no sense; and free from all manner of dissimulation.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 40 Book 7 · 54 of 58
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The mind's wisdom says to whatever is happening: 'You are exactly what I was looking for.' Whatever the present moment brings, I will embrace it as the right material for both my reasoning mind and my desire to help others. The key point is this: everything that happens can either honor God or benefit people. Every event in the world naturally serves either God or humanity. Nothing is truly new or difficult to handle — everything is familiar and manageable.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 39 Book 7 · 53 of 58
Freedom & Control Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

and her discretion to the present object; thou art that, which I sought for. For whatsoever it be, that is now present, shall ever be embraced by me as a fit and seasonable object, both for my reasonable faculty, and for my sociable, or charitable inclination to work upon. And that which is principal in this matter, is that it may be referred either unto the praise of God, or to the good of men. For either unto God or man, whatsoever it is that doth happen in the world hath in the ordinary course of nature its proper reference; neither is there anything, that in regard of nature is either new, or reluctant and intractable, but all things both usual and easy.

Meditations, Book 7, Section 39 Book 7 · 53 of 58
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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