Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Lucilla buried Verus, then others buried Lucilla. Secunda buried Maximus, then Secunda herself was buried. Epitynchanus buried Diotimus, then Epitynchanus was buried. Antoninus Pius buried his wife Faustina, then Antoninus himself died. This is how the world works. First Celer buried Adrianus, then Adrianus himself died. And what about those stern, serious men? The ones who predicted other people's deaths? The ones who were so proud and important — where are they now? I mean men like Charax, Demetrius the philosopher, and Eudaemon. They all lasted just one day in the grand scheme of things. All dead and gone long ago. Some were forgotten as soon as they died. Others became legends for a while. Even the legends are now forgotten. Remember this: whatever you are made of will soon scatter. Your life and breath — your soul — will either be nothing or will move to some other place.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 24 Book 8 · 28 of 67
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Lucilla buried Verus; then was Lucilla herself buried by others. So Secunda Maximus, then Secunda herself. So Epitynchanus, Diotimus; then Epitynchanus himself. So Antoninus Pius, Faustina his wife; then Antoninus himself. This is the course of the world. First Celer, Adrianus; then Adrianus himself. And those austere ones; those that foretold other men's deaths; those that were so proud and stately, where are they now? Those austere ones I mean, such as were Charax, and Demetrius the Platonic, and Eudaemon, and others like unto those. They were all but for one day; all dead and gone long since. Some of them no sooner dead, than forgotten. Others soon turned into fables. Of others, even that which was fabulous, is now long since forgotten. This thereafter thou must remember, that whatsoever thou art compounded of, shall soon be dispersed, and that thy life and breath, or thy soul, shall either be no more or shall ranslated (sp.), and appointed to some certain place and station.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 24 Book 8 · 28 of 67
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Judge all actions by this one example: bathing takes up so much of our time, but what is it really? Oil, sweat, dirt. The filth of the body. A disgusting mix of oils and lotions blended with body waste. All of it base and revolting. Almost every part of our life is like this. So is every worldly thing we chase.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 23 Book 8 · 27 of 67
What Matters Most Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

By one action judge of the rest: this bathing which usually takes up so much of our time, what is it? Oil, sweat, filth; or the sordes of the body: an excrementitious viscosity, the excrements of oil and other ointments used about the body, and mixed with the sordes of the body: all base and loathsome. And such almost is every part of our life; and every worldly object.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 23 Book 8 · 27 of 67
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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