Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

And so you must reason with yourself about both fame and death. As for the body itself — the thing that dies — do you want to know how worthless it is? Turn it around so you can see its worst sides, not just its normal pleasant form. How does it look when it's old and wrinkled? When it's sick and in pain? When it's caught up in lust and sex?

Meditations, Book 8, Section 19 Book 8 · 22 of 67
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

And so must thou reason with thyself, both in matter of fame, and in matter of death. For as for the body itself, (the subject of death) wouldest thou know the vileness of it? Turn it about that thou mayest behold it the worst sides upwards as well, as in its more ordinary pleasant shape; how doth it look, when it is old and withered? when sick and pained? when in the act of lust, and fornication?

Meditations, Book 8, Section 19 Book 8 · 22 of 67
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Think of someone tossing up a ball. Is the ball any better when it goes up? Is it worse when it comes down or hits the ground? The same goes for a bubble. If it lasts, is it any better? If it pops, is it any worse? A candle is the same way.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 19 Book 8 · 21 of 67
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

As one that tosseth up a ball. And what is a ball the better, if the motion of it be upwards; or the worse if it be downwards; or if it chance to fall upon the ground? So for the bubble; if it continue, what it the better? and if it dissolve, what is it the worse And so is it of a candle too.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 19 Book 8 · 21 of 67
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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