Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The things you struggle so hard to get or avoid don't actually come to you. You go to them. So let your thoughts about these things be still. The things themselves are quiet and motionless. They make no noise at all. When you see this, all your chasing and running away will stop.

Meditations, Book 11, Section 10 Book 11 · 12 of 45
Freedom & Control Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

The things themselves (which either to get or to avoid thou art put to so much trouble) come not unto thee themselves; but thou in a manner goest unto them. Let then thine own judgment and opinion concerning those things be at rest; and as for the things themselves, they stand still and quiet, without any noise or stir at all; and so shall all pursuing and flying cease.

Meditations, Book 11, Section 10 Book 11 · 12 of 45
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

No nature can be worse than human skill, since all skills copy nature. If this is true, then the most perfect nature of all could not fall short of what human arts can do. This would make no sense. All skills work the same way: they use worse things to make better things. Nature does this even more. This is where justice begins. All other virtues come from justice. We cannot keep justice if we focus our hearts on worldly things, or if we let ourselves be fooled, or if we act without thinking, or if we keep changing our minds.

Meditations, Book 11, Section 9 Book 11 · 11 of 45
Doing The Right Thing What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

It is not possible that any nature should be inferior unto art, since that all arts imitate nature. If this be so; that the most perfect and general nature of all natures should in her operation come short of the skill of arts, is most improbable. Now common is it to all arts, to make that which is worse for the better's sake. Much more then doth the common nature do the same. Hence is the first ground of justice. From justice all other virtues have their existence. For justice cannot be preserved, if either we settle our minds and affections upon worldly things; or be apt to be deceived, or rash, and inconstant.

Meditations, Book 11, Section 9 Book 11 · 11 of 45
‹ Previous Next ›

Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

About · Support