Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

A person who doesn't have the same main goal throughout life cannot stay the same person. But this isn't enough unless you know what that goal should be. Most people have confused ideas about what's good because they follow popular opinion without solid reasons. Their views can't agree with each other. Only goals that are limited by certain principles - like serving the common good - can work. Nothing should be called good unless it helps everyone. So the goal we set for ourselves must also serve the common good and help society. When someone directs all their private thoughts and plans toward this shared goal, all their actions will line up with each other. This is how they stay the same person.

Meditations, Book 11, Section 19 Book 11 · 31 of 45
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

He that hath not one and the self-same general end always as long as he liveth, cannot possibly be one and the self-same man always. But this will not suffice except thou add also what ought to be this general end. For as the general conceit and apprehension of all those things which upon no certain ground are by the greater part of men deemed good, cannot be uniform and agreeable, but that only which is limited and restrained by some certain proprieties and conditions, as of community: that nothing be conceived good, which is not commonly and publicly good: so must the end also that we propose unto ourselves, be common and sociable. For he that doth direct all his own private motions and purposes to that end, all his actions will be agreeable and uniform; and by that means will be still the same man.

Meditations, Book 11, Section 19 Book 11 · 31 of 45
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

We can't say that when the mind disobeys, it's like fire or air rising toward their natural place. The mind does the opposite. When the mind moves toward injustice, lack of self-control, sorrow, or fear, it's separating from its nature. When the mind grieves over what divine providence has brought about, it abandons its proper place. The mind was meant for holiness and reverence. These come from humble acceptance of God and his providence in all things. They come from justice too. These are duties we owe as social beings. Without them, we can't live peacefully together. They are the foundation of all right action.

Meditations, Book 11, Section 18 Book 11 · 30 of 45
Knowing Yourself Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

For we cannot say of it when it is disobedient, as we say of the fire, or air, that it tends upwards towards its proper element, for then goes it the quite contrary way. For the motion of the mind to any injustice, or incontinency, or to sorrow, or to fear, is nothing else but a separation from nature. Also when the mind is grieved for anything that is happened by the divine providence, then doth it likewise forsake its own place. For it was ordained unto holiness and godliness, which specially consist in an humble submission to God and His providence in all things; as well as unto justice: these also being part of those duties, which as naturally sociable, we are bound unto; and without which we cannot happily converse one with another: yea and the very ground and fountain indeed of all just actions.

Meditations, Book 11, Section 18 Book 11 · 30 of 45
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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