Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

If the gods can help us with anything, they can surely help with this too. But you might say, 'The gods have given me freedom in these matters. It's up to me to choose.' But if you have this freedom, wouldn't it be better to use it to free your mind? Why choose to chase after things you can't control? That kind of thinking makes you a slave to your desires.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 40 Book 9 · 52 of 60
Freedom & Control Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

For certainly it must needs be, that if the Gods can help us in anything, they may in this kind also. But thou wilt say perchance, 'In those things the Gods have given me my liberty: and it is in mine own power to do what I will.' But if thou mayst use this liberty, rather to set thy mind at true liberty, than wilfully with baseness and servility of mind to affect those things, which either to compass or to avoid is not in thy power, wert not thou better?

Meditations, Book 9, Section 40 Book 9 · 52 of 60
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Either the gods can do nothing for us, or they can calm all the chaos and upset in your mind. If they can do nothing, why do you pray? If they can help, why not pray for something better? Ask them to free you from fear and craving for worldly things that disturb your peace. Ask that you won't be upset whether you have these things or not. This is better than praying to get what you want or avoid what you fear.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 40 Book 9 · 51 of 60
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Either the Gods can do nothing for us at all, or they can still and allay all the distractions and distempers of thy mind. If they can do nothing, why doest thou pray? If they can, why wouldst not thou rather pray, that they will grant unto thee, that thou mayst neither fear, nor lust after any of those worldly things which cause these distractions and distempers of it? Why not rather, that thou mayst not at either their absence or presence, be grieved and discontented: than either that thou mayst obtain them, or that thou mayst avoid them?

Meditations, Book 9, Section 40 Book 9 · 51 of 60
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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