Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Picture everyone who grieves over worldly things like a pig squealing when its throat is cut. That's what they're like when they cry and carry on. The same goes for someone lying alone in bed, complaining about the troubles of mortal life. Remember this: only rational beings can choose to accept what fate brings. But all creatures must submit to it whether they want to or not.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 28 Book 10 · 41 of 57
Facing Hardship Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

As a pig that cries and flings when his throat is cut, fancy to thyself every one to be, that grieves for any worldly thing and takes on. Such a one is he also, who upon his bed alone, doth bewail the miseries of this our mortal life. And remember this, that Unto reasonable creatures only it is granted that they may willingly and freely submit unto Providence: but absolutely to submit, is a necessity imposed upon all creatures equally.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 28 Book 10 · 41 of 57
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Always keep this in mind: everything happening now has happened before in much the same way. And everything that will happen later will follow the same patterns too. Think of all the complete dramas you have seen — the same types of scenes playing out in the lives of people in similar positions. Whether from your own experience or from reading ancient histories — the whole court of Hadrian, the whole court of Antoninus Pius, the court of Philip, of Alexander, of Croesus. Picture them all. You will see they are all basically the same. Only the actors have changed.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 27 Book 10 · 40 of 57
Human Nature What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Ever to mind and consider with thyself; how all things that now are, have been heretofore much after the same sort, and after the same fashion that now they are: and so to think of those things which shall be hereafter also. Moreover, whole dramata, and uniform scenes, or scenes that comprehend the lives and actions of men of one calling and profession, as many as either in thine own experience thou hast known, or by reading of ancient histories; (as the whole court of Adrianus, the whole court of Antoninus Pius, the whole court of Philippus, that of Alexander, that of Crœsus): to set them all before thine eyes. For thou shalt find that they are all but after one sort and fashion: only that the actors were others.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 27 Book 10 · 40 of 57
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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