Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Oh my soul, the time will come when you are good, simple, and pure. You will be more open and clear than the body that holds you. One day you will feel the happiness of those who love truly and who care nothing for worldly things. You will be complete and need nothing from outside yourself. You won't seek pleasure from anything in this world, whether living or dead. You won't need more time for enjoyment, or a special place, or good weather, or the approval of others.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 1 Book 10 · 1 of 57
Calm Your Mind What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

O my soul, the time I trust will be, when thou shalt be good, simple, single, more open and visible, than that body by which it is enclosed. Thou wilt one day be sensible of their happiness, whose end is love, and their affections dead to all worldly things. Thou shalt one day be full, and in want of no external thing: not seeking pleasure from anything, either living or insensible, that this world can afford; neither wanting time for the continuation of thy pleasure, nor place and opportunity, nor the favour either of the weather or of men.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 1 Book 10 · 1 of 57
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

You have done what your nature required. Do you need to be rewarded for it? The eye doesn't ask for payment when it sees. The feet don't demand satisfaction when they walk. These parts were made by nature for their purpose. They can ask for nothing more than to work as they were designed. So it is with people. We were born to do good for others. When you help someone out of error, or even with everyday things like money, health, or advancement, you are doing what you were made to do. You can ask for nothing more.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 43 Book 9 · 60 of 60
Doing The Right Thing Human Nature
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

What thy nature required, that hast thou done. Must thou be rewarded for it? As if either the eye for that it seeth, or the feet that they go, should require satisfaction. For as these being by nature appointed for such an use, can challenge no more, than that they may work according to their natural constitution: so man being born to do good unto others whensoever he doth a real good unto any by helping them out of error; or though but in middle things, as in matter of wealth, life, preferment, and the like, doth help to further their desires he doth that for which he was made, and therefore can require no more.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 43 Book 9 · 60 of 60
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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