Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Now that you have taken on these names — good, modest, true, wise, accepting, transcendent — be careful not to lose your right to them by acting contrary to what they mean. If you do slip, return to them as quickly as possible. Remember what these words mean. "Wise" means you consider every situation clearly, without distraction. "Accepting" means you readily embrace whatever common nature brings to you. "Transcendent" means your mind rises above all bodily pain and pleasure, honor and disgrace, death and similar things — treating them as completely neutral matters that a wise person should not be bothered by.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 8 Book 10 · 15 of 57
Knowing Yourself Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Now that thou hast taken these names upon thee of good, modest, true; of ἔμφρων, σύμφρων, ὑπέρφρων; take heed lest at any times by doing anything that is contrary, thou be but improperly so called, and lose thy right to these appellations. Or if thou do, return unto them again with all possible speed. And remember, that the word ἔμφρων notes unto thee an intent and intelligent consideration of every object that presents itself unto thee, without distraction. And the word σύμφρων, a ready and contented acceptation of whatsoever by the appointment of the common nature, happens unto thee. And the word ὑπέρφρων, a super-extension, or a transcendent, and outreaching disposition of thy mind, whereby it passeth by all bodily pains and pleasures, honour and credit, death and whatsoever is of the same nature, as matters of absolute indifferency, and in no wise to be stood upon by a wise man.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 8 Book 10 · 15 of 57
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Don't think the solid and spiritual parts of you are the same as when you were born. Everything you are now — your body and life — came from food you ate and air you breathed just two or three days ago. You are like a river that stays the same only because new water keeps flowing through it. What you have received recently, not what came from your mother, is what changes and breaks down. But even if the solid parts of your body stayed with you forever, what does that matter? The real qualities that make you who you are — those are completely different.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 7 Book 10 · 14 of 57
Death & Mortality Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Now that solid and spiritual that we speak of, thou must not conceive it to be that very same, which at first was, when thou wert born. For alas! all this that now thou art in either kind, either for matter of substance, or of life, hath but two or three days ago partly from meats eaten, and partly from air breathed in, received all its influx, being the same then in no other respect, than a running river, maintained by the perpetual influx and new supply of waters, is the same. That therefore which thou hast since received, not that which came from thy mother, is that which comes to change and corruption. But suppose that that for the general substance, and more solid part of it, should still cleave unto thee never so close, yet what is that to the proper qualities and affections of it, by which persons are distinguished, which certainly are quite different?

Meditations, Book 10, Section 7 Book 10 · 14 of 57
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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