Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Practice even the things you first think you cannot do. Look at your left hand. Most of the time it sits idle because you don't use it. But it can hold horse reins more firmly than your right hand, simply because it has been trained for that task.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 5 Book 12 · 9 of 41
Knowing Yourself Facing Hardship
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Use thyself even unto those things that thou doest at first despair of. For the left hand we see, which for the most part lieth idle because not used; yet doth it hold the bridle with more strength than the right, because it hath been used unto it.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 5 Book 12 · 9 of 41
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

If it had been more just or natural for good people to return to life after death, the universe would have made it happen. But since it doesn't happen, you can be confident it wasn't meant to be. You see how freely you argue with God about this question. If the gods weren't perfectly just and good, you wouldn't dare to reason with them this way. And since they are just and good, they couldn't have overlooked or made mistakes when they created the world.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 4 Book 12 · 8 of 41
Death & Mortality Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

For certainly it was possible, had it been more just so and had it been according to nature, the nature of the universe would easily have borne it. But now because it is not so, (if so be that it be not so indeed) be therefore confident that it was not fit it should be so for thou seest thyself, that now seeking after this matter, how freely thou doest argue and contest with God. But were not the Gods both just and good in the highest degree, thou durst not thus reason with them. Now if just and good, it could not be that in the creation of the world, they should either unjustly or unreasonably oversee anything.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 4 Book 12 · 8 of 41
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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