Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Whatever you hope to achieve in the future, you can enjoy right now. You just need to stop getting in your own way. Here's how: forget the past. For the future, trust in providence. Focus all your present thoughts on being holy and doing right. Be holy by accepting whatever comes your way willingly. Providence sends what the universe has planned for you, and it has planned you for whatever happens. Be righteous by speaking truth clearly and honestly. Do all things with justice and wisdom.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 1 Book 12 · 1 of 41
What Matters Most Freedom & Control Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Whatsoever thou doest hereafter aspire unto, thou mayest even now enjoy and possess, if thou doest not envy thyself thine own happiness. And that will be, if thou shalt forget all that is past, and for the future, refer thyself wholly to the Divine Providence, and shalt bend and apply all thy present thoughts and intentions to holiness and righteousness. To holiness, in accepting willingly whatsoever is sent by the Divine Providence, as being that which the nature of the universe hath appointed unto thee, which also hath appointed thee for that, whatsoever it be. To righteousness, in speaking the truth freely, and without ambiguity; and in doing all things justly and discreetly.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 1 Book 12 · 1 of 41
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Socrates said, 'What do you want? The souls of thinking beings or mindless creatures? Of thinking beings. But what kind? Those with sound judgment, or those whose thinking is damaged and corrupted? Those with sound judgment. Then why don't you work for such souls? Because we already have them. So why do you fight and argue with each other?'

Meditations, Book 11, Section 32 Book 11 · 45 of 45
Human Nature Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Socrates said, 'What will you have? the souls of reasonable, or unreasonable creatures? Of reasonable. But what? Of those whose reason is sound and perfect? or of those whose reason is vitiated and corrupted? Of those whose reason is sound and perfect. Why then labour ye not for such? Because we have them already. What then do ye so strive and contend between you?'

Meditations, Book 11, Section 32 Book 11 · 45 of 45
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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