Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

But if you are swept away by the flood, it might be your body, your life, or something else that belongs to them that gets carried away. Your mind and understanding cannot be swept away. Think about it this way — a candle's light stays bright until someone puts it out. Should truth, justice, and self-control stop shining in you while you still exist?

Meditations, Book 12, Section 11 Book 12 · 18 of 41
Freedom & Control Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

But if thou beest carried away with the flood, it must be thy body perchance, or thy life, or some other thing that belongs unto them that is carried away: thy mind and understanding cannot. Or should it be so, that the light of a candle indeed is still bright and lightsome until it be put out: and should truth, and righteousness, and temperance cease to shine in thee whilest thou thyself hast any being?

Meditations, Book 12, Section 11 Book 12 · 18 of 41
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Either fate rules everything — and that fate is either fixed and unavoidable, or it's a Providence that can be moved by prayer. Or maybe everything is just random chaos with no order at all. If fate is fixed and unavoidable, why fight it? If Providence can be moved, make yourself worthy of divine help. If everything is just chaos with no one in charge, then you should congratulate yourself. In all this confusion, you have been given reason. You can use it to govern your own life and actions.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 11 Book 12 · 17 of 41
Freedom & Control Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Either fate, (and that either an absolute necessity, and unavoidable decree; or a placable and flexible Providence) or all is a mere casual confusion, void of all order and government. If an absolute and unavoidable necessity, why doest thou resist? If a placable and exorable Providence, make thyself worthy of the divine help and assistance. If all be a mere confusion without any moderator, or governor, then hast thou reason to congratulate thyself; that in such a general flood of confusion thou thyself hast obtained a reasonable faculty, whereby thou mayest govern thine own life and actions.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 11 Book 12 · 17 of 41
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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