Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The mind should spread its influence like sunlight — not pouring out wildly, but extending steadily. Whatever obstacles and blocks the mind meets, it must not attack them violently or crash into them. It must not collapse either. Instead, it should stand firm and shine light on whatever can receive it. As for what refuses the light, that's its own fault and loss.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 54 Book 8 · 63 of 67
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

such must the diffusion in the mind be; not an effusion, but an extension. What obstacles and impediments soever she meeteth within her way, she must not violently, and by way of an impetuous onset light upon them; neither must she fall down; but she must stand, and give light unto that which doth admit of it. For as for that which doth not, it is its own fault and loss, if it bereave itself of her light.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 54 Book 8 · 63 of 67
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The sun seems to pour out everywhere. And it does spread out, but it doesn't spill wastefully. Its spreading is a stretching or extension. That's why sunbeams are called rays - from the word meaning "to stretch out." You can see what a sunbeam really is if you watch sunlight pierce through a small hole into a dark room. It always travels in a straight line. When it hits something solid that air can't pass through, it gets cut off and stopped. But it doesn't slide away or fall down - it just stays right there.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 54 Book 8 · 62 of 67
Calm Your Mind Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

The sun seemeth to be shed abroad. And indeed it is diffused but not effused. For that diffusion of it is a τάσις or an extension. For therefore are the beams of it called ἀκτῖνες from the word ἐκτείνεσθαι to be stretched out and extended. Now what a sunbeam is, thou mayest know if thou observe the light of the sun, when through some narrow hole it pierceth into some room that is dark. For it is always in a direct line. And as by any solid body, that it meets with in the way that is not penetrable by air, it is divided and abrupted, and yet neither slides off, or falls down, but stayeth there nevertheless:

Meditations, Book 8, Section 54 Book 8 · 62 of 67
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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