Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Remember that everything is just opinion. All opinion comes from the mind. Take your opinion away, and you get instant calm — like a ship that has sailed into the safety of a harbor. Everything becomes safe and steady. You're in a protected bay where no storms can reach you.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 16 Book 12 · 23 of 41
Calm Your Mind Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Remember that all is but opinion, and all opinion depends of the mind. Take thine opinion away, and then as a ship that hath stricken in within the arms and mouth of the harbour, a present calm; all things safe and steady: a bay, not capable of any storms and tempests: as the poet hath it.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 16 Book 12 · 23 of 41
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

It is time for you to understand that there is something in you better and more divine than your emotions or your physical desires. What is my mind focused on right now? Is it fear, suspicion, lust, or something like that? First, do nothing without a clear purpose. Second, have no purpose other than the common good. Soon you will be gone. None of the things you see now, none of the people alive today, will be here either. Everything is naturally meant to change, turn, and decay so that other things can take their place.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 15 Book 12 · 22 of 41
Knowing Yourself Death & Mortality What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

It is high time for thee, to understand that there is somewhat in thee, better and more divine than either thy passions, or thy sensual appetites and affections. What is now the object of my mind, is it fear, or suspicion, or lust, or any such thing? To do nothing rashly without some certain end; let that be thy first care. The next, to have no other end than the common good. For, alas! yet a little while, and thou art no more: no more will any, either of those things that now thou seest, or of those men that now are living, be any more. For all things are by nature appointed soon to be changed, turned, and corrupted, that other things might succeed in their room.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 15 Book 12 · 22 of 41
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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