Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Don't let anyone truthfully say that you are not simple, sincere, or good. Let them be wrong if they think badly of you. This is entirely up to you. Who could stop you from being simple or good? Just decide that you would rather not live than not be this kind of person. It doesn't make sense for someone to live if they are not like this.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 33 Book 10 · 46 of 57
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Let it not be in any man's power, to say truly of thee, that thou art not truly simple, or sincere and open, or not good. Let him be deceived whosoever he be that shall have any such opinion of thee. For all this doth depend of thee. For who is it that should hinder thee from being either truly simple or good? Do thou only resolve rather not to live, than not to be such. For indeed neither doth it stand with reason that he should live that is not such.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 33 Book 10 · 46 of 57
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

What kind of life are you so eager to escape? All these difficult things are just practice for a mind that sees things as they really are. Be patient. Just like a strong stomach digests whatever you put in it, and a big fire turns anything into flame and light, you can make these challenges part of who you are.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 32 Book 10 · 45 of 57
Facing Hardship Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

What a subject, and what a course of life is it, that thou doest so much desire to be rid of. For all these things, what are they, but fit objects for an understanding, that beholdeth everything according to its true nature, to exercise itself upon? Be patient, therefore, until that (as a strong stomach that turns all things into his own nature; and as a great fire that turneth in flame and light, whatsoever thou doest cast into it) thou have made these things also familiar, and as it were natural unto thee.

Meditations, Book 10, Section 32 Book 10 · 45 of 57
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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