Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Try to hold the whole world in your mind, and picture the entire span of this present age. Focus on how quickly each thing changes. The time from when something is born to when it falls apart is so short. But the time before it existed and after it's gone is vast and endless. Everything you see will soon be gone. And those who watch things decay will vanish too. Someone who dies at a hundred and someone who dies young end up in the same place.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 31 Book 9 · 42 of 60
Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

To comprehend the whole world together in thy mind, and the whole course of this present age to represent it unto thyself, and to fix thy thoughts upon the sudden change of every particular object. How short the time is from the generation of anything, unto the dissolution of the same; but how immense and infinite both that which was before the generation, and that which after the generation of it shall be. All things that thou seest, will soon be perished, and they that see their corruptions, will soon vanish away themselves. He that dieth a hundred years old, and he that dieth young, shall come all to one.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 31 Book 9 · 42 of 60
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Many of the things that trouble and limit you can be cut away. They depend only on your thoughts and opinions. Do this, and you will have plenty of room to breathe.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 30 Book 9 · 41 of 60
Freedom & Control Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Many of those things that trouble and straiten thee, it is in thy power to cut off, as wholly depending from mere conceit and opinion; and then thou shalt have room enough.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 30 Book 9 · 41 of 60
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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