Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

When any activity stops for a while, we cannot say it suffers harm simply because it has ended. The person doing that activity also suffers no harm just because the activity is over. In the same way, our whole life - which is really just a series of actions - cannot be called bad simply because it comes to an end. And the person who brings this series of actions to a close has not been harmed.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 17 Book 12 · 24 of 41
Death & Mortality Calm Your Mind
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

No operation whatsoever it he, ceasing for a while, can be truly said to suffer any evil, because it is at an end. Neither can he that is the author of that operation; for this very respect, because his operation is at an end, be said to suffer any evil. Likewise then, neither can the whole body of all our actions (which is our life) if in time it cease, be said to suffer any evil for this very reason, because it is at an end; nor he truly be said to have been ill affected, that did put a period to this series of actions.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 17 Book 12 · 24 of 41
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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