People Who Have Read Marcus Aurelius Meditations

Marcus Aurelius (Ad 121-180) was the Roman Emperor  from 161 until his death in 180.  He was known equally Marcus the wise and was the last of the 5 good emperors. You lot might remember him every bit the quondam guy from the pic Gladiator.  During his subsequently years, while he was commanding his armies, he wrote down many of his thoughts on Stoic philosophy.  These personal writings consisted of 12 books (chosen Meditations, meaning "to himself") which he wrote over the last 10 years of his life.  They were a source for his own guidance and cocky-comeback and are notwithstanding very relevant for united states of america today. Recommended viewing: Meditations past Marcus Aurelius summary.

Quick annotation: Stoicism was founded by Zeno (300 bce).  His teachings continued and evolved until the later Stoics like Seneca (4 BC – AD 65), Epictetus (AD 55 – 135) and Marcus Aurelius.  It was a pretty big deal back in the day, just it died out in the 4th century when Constantine (Emperor) declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.  In AD 529, Justinian I closed all pagan philosophy schools because he perceived them as beingness at odds with Christian faith.

In that location are some great life lessons in Marcus Aurelius' journals!  What amazes me is that these are the journals of the Roman Emperor… most two,000 years ago!!  Beneath are some powerful Marcus Aurelius quotes and the lessons I pulled out from them (my interpretation).

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On Oneness

1 – Nosotros are all i; all interconnected. The universe is harmonious, therefore, do not human action confronting others.

Everything harmonizes with me, which is harmonious to thee, O Universe. Nothing for me is also early nor also late, which is in due time for thee. Everything is fruit to me which thy seasons bring, O Nature: from thee are all things, in thee are all things, to thee all things return. Occupy thyself with few things, says the philosopher, if yard wouldst be tranquil

For we are made for co-operation, like feet, like easily, like eyelids, similar the rows of the upper and lower teeth. To act against one another and then is contrary to nature; and it is acting against i another to be vexed and to turn away

Constantly regard the universe as i living being, having one substance and 1 soul

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On dealing with other people

1 – Care for others with respect

Practice not belittle others, treat them with respect it is thy duty to be a expert man, and what man's nature demands, practise that without turning aside; and speak as information technology seems to thee most merely, but let information technology be with a good disposition and with modesty and without hypocrisy

2 – If someone else is angry at you or even hates you, do non be disturbed. Even if they are liars and unjust men, react calmly and with intelligence. You lot can choose how to react. You tin cull to react peacefully and with kindness. Your kindness volition overcome their hostility. Testify them where they have gone off-target and help them become ameliorate.

These information technology is thy duty to observe and without being disturbed or showing anger towards those who are angry with thee to go along thy way and end that which is set before thee

One affair here is worth a peachy deal, to pass thy life in truth and justice, with a benevolent disposition even to liars and unjust men

Whatever whatever one does or says, I must be good, just as if the gold, or the emerald, or the purple were e'er proverb this, Whatever whatever i does or says, I must exist emerald and keep my colour

Shall any homo detest me? Let him look to information technology. But I will exist balmy and chivalrous towards every man, and ready to testify even him his mistake, not reproachfully, nor even so as making a display of my endurance, merely nobly and honestly, Men despise ane another and flatter one another; and men wish to raise themselves above one another, and crouch before one another

3 – When you're beingness kind and true (non faking kindness), even the nearly violent person will eventually soften. Help them by being kind and past explaining their errors calmly. When someone is against you, they are not hurting you, but only hurting themselves.

Consider that a good disposition is invincible, if information technology be genuine, and not an affected smile and acting a part. For what will the about violent man practise to thee, if thou continuest to exist of a kind disposition towards him, and if, every bit opportunity offers, 1000 gently admonishest him and calmly correctest his errors at the very time when he is trying to do thee harm, saying, Not so, my child: we are constituted by nature for something else: I shall certainly non exist injured, simply grand art injuring thyself, my child.- And show him with gentle tact and by general principles that this is and then, and that fifty-fifty bees do not do equally he does, nor whatsoever animals which are formed past nature to be gregarious. And thou must do this neither with any double meaning nor in the way of reproach, only affectionately and without any rancour in thy soul; and not as if thou wert lecturing him, nor withal that any bystander may admire, merely either when he is lone, and if others are present

four – Both hate and flattery must be avoided because they are not beneficial to anyone or the whole.

One thousand must equally avert flattering men and beingness veied at them, for both are unsocial and atomic number 82 to impairment

5 – Exist open, and willing to listen to reason.

If any man is able to convince me and evidence me that I do not think or act right, I will gladly change; for I seek the truth by which no homo was ever injured. But he is injured who abides in is error and ignorance

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On simplicity

1 – Remove unnecessary acts and thoughts from your life. If it doesn't accept a skilful purpose, then why are you wasting your time with it?

Accordingly on every occasion a homo should inquire himself, is this one of the unnecessary things? Now a man should take away not only unnecessary acts, merely also, unnecessary thoughts, for thus superfluous acts volition not follow after

2 – Always seek the easiest, most effortless path. Be similar a river – it flows and follows the least path of resistance.

E'er run to the brusk way; and the brusk manner is the natural

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On acceptance

1 – Accept everything that happens to you. Yous may not encounter the big moving-picture show at the moment, simply is it possible that this matter you dislike could be happening for a purpose to assistance you lot? You are function of something bigger and there is a purpose for what happens to you. Look back on past events that you lot thought were bad and you tin see that they are beneficial to you in some way. When you resist, you're making the strain twice as bad (yourself resisting + your circumstances).

And so take everything which happens, even if it seem disagreeable, because information technology leads to this, to the wellness of the universe and to the prosperity and felicity of Zeus (the universe). For he would not have brought on any homo what he has brought, if it were non useful for the whole

2 – Accept pain because resistance merely makes the pain worse.

Do not yield to pain. Pain is neither intolerable nor everlasting, if chiliad bearest in mind that information technology has its limits, and if g addest nothing to it in imagination

3 – Accept your fate, do not fight or resist it. If yous can take what happens to you, your life volition be more peaceful.

Love that only which happens to thee and is spun with the thread of thy destiny. For what is more suitable?

An moved to make the universe. But now either everything that takes place comes past style of upshot or continuity; or even the chief things towards which the ruling power of the universe directs its ain move are governed by no rational principle. If this is remembered it will make thee more than tranquil in many things

4 – Practice non-zipper. Accept the fact that you may lose things in your life. Things are constantly changing and will keep to do and then (more than on that later), and so accept it.

Receive wealth or prosperity without arrogance; and be ready to let it become

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On solitude and meditation

1 – Retire into yourself in order to find your inner peace and renew yourself.

But attend to thyself, and resolve to be a good man in every act which g doest: and remember…  Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and information technology will always bubble upward, if thou wilt ever dig

Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains; and thou also art wont to want such things very much. But this is altogether a mark of the almost common sort of men, for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt cull to retire into thyself. For nowhere either with more repose or more liberty from trouble does a human retire than into his own soul, particularly when he has within him such thoughts that past looking into them he is immediately in perfect tranquility; and I affirm that tranquility is nothing else than the proficient ordering of the listen. Constantly then give to thyself this retreat, and renew thyself; and let thy principles be brief and fundamental, which, every bit soon as thou shalt recur to them, volition exist sufficient to cleanse the soul completely, and to send thee back free from all discontent with the things to which g returnest

Call up to retire into this petty territory of thy own, and above all do non distract or strain thyself, but be gratis, and look at things equally a man, as a man, as a denizen, as a mortal

2 – Contemplate your existence and identify in the universe. Think about pain, pleasance, death, and opinion. Contemplate near how small we are, how vast the universe is, the enormous time scale of the universe, and the small corporeality of time we take on Earth.

Constantly contemplate the whole of time and the whole of substance, and consider that all individual things as to substance are a grain of a fig, and every bit to time, the turning of a gimlet

Contemplate the determinative principles (forms) of things blank of their coverings; the purposes of actions; consider what hurting is, what pleasance is, and death, and fame; who is to himself the cause of his uneasiness; how no man is hindered by another; that everything is opinion

3 – We are but here for a brusque fourth dimension and we are a very small speck in the universe. Everything is soon forgotten. Reverberate on that.

See how soon everything is forgotten, and wait at the anarchy of infinite time on each side of the present, and the emptiness of applause, and the changeableness and want of judgement in those who pretend to give praise, and the narrowness of the space within which it is circumscribed, and be tranquility at last. For the whole earth is a betoken, and how small a nook in information technology is this thy dwelling, and how few are there in it, and what kind of people are they who volition praise thee

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On death

one – Expiry is a natural function of life'southward bicycle and is zero to fear. Bodies disappear and become something else, memories fade, and even those who remember yous will soon be gone likewise. That is nature, so don't be against it; welcome information technology. There is nothing wrong with decease, only your opinion about it.

Consider in what condition both in torso and soul a human should be when he is overtaken by death; and consider the shortness of life, the boundless completeness of time past and hereafter, the feebleness of all thing

Do not despise death, but be well content with it, since this too is ane of those things which nature wills

How rapidly all things disappear, in the universe the bodies themselves, but in time the remembrance of them; waiting for decease with a cheerful mind, equally being zilch else than a dissolution of the elements of which every living being is compounded. But if there is no damage to the elements themselves in each continually changing into another, why should a man have any apprehension well-nigh the alter and dissolution of all the elements? For it is according to nature, and goose egg is evil which is co-ordinate to nature

What a soul that is which is prepare, if at any moment it must exist separated from the body, and prepare either to be extinguished or dispersed or continue to exist; but and then that this readiness comes from a man's ain judgement

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On judging someone else

1 – Don't judge someone else'due south actions. You accept also done many things wrong (in your mind), so don't be so fast to pass judgement.  If you recollect someone has done something wrong, think nearly why yous believe it is incorrect.  Is information technology really wrong or is that only your stance of information technology? Maybe to him it is right. Once you see this, y'all won't be angry with him.

When a man has done thee any wrong, immediately consider with what opinion about skilful or evil he has washed incorrect. For when 1000 hast seen this, one thousand wilt compassion him, and wilt neither wonder nor be angry. For either thousand thyself thinkest the same matter to be good that he does or another matter of the same kind. It is thy duty and then to pardon him. But if thou dost not call up such things to be good or evil, chiliad wilt more than readily be well disposed to him who is in error

If thou art able, correct by teaching those who do wrong To-day I have got out of all trouble, or rather I have cast out all trouble, for information technology was not exterior, but within and in my opinions

Resolve to dismiss thy sentence about an act as if it were something grievous, and thy anger is gone. consider that thou also doest many things incorrect, and that thou art a man like others

That if men do rightly what they exercise, we ought not to be displeased; but if they exercise not right, it is plain that they practice then involuntarily and in ignorance

ii – Judging in itself causes separation and pain, so avoid it and run across the bigger picture. You cannot accurately judge someone unless you lot are them.  All other  judgments are biased.

Eighth, consider how much more hurting is brought on u.s.a. by the anger and vexation acquired by such acts than by the acts themselves, at which we are aroused and vexed

That it is not men'southward acts which disturb us, for those acts accept their foundation in men'southward ruling principles, but it is our own opinions which disturb u.s.a.. many things are done with a certain reference to circumstances. And in short, a man must larn a groovy deal to enable him to pass a correct judgement on another human being's acts

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On the opinions of others

one – Don't waste time thinking about the opinions of others. Why consider the opinion of others who are not even satisfied with themselves? Don't let anyone'southward hateful actions or words hinder you, just all the same treat them as friends. Don't try to be a people pleaser because y'all can't delight everyone. Examine your ain opinions every bit well.

Practise not waste the remainder of thy life in thoughts about others, to treat all men is according to man'due south nature; and a man should agree on to the opinion not of all, but of those only who confessedly alive co-ordinate to nature. But as to those who live not so, he always bears in mind what kind of men they are both at habitation and from home, both by dark and past day, and what they are, and with what men they live an impure life. Appropriately, he does non value at all the praise which comes from such men, since they are not even satisfied with themselves

And let neither another homo's wickedness hinder thee, nor opinion nor voice, nor notwithstanding the sensations of the poor flesh which has grown about thee

When another blames thee or hates thee, or when men say about thee anything injurious, arroyo their poor souls, penetrate within, and see what kind of men they are. Yard wilt discover that there is no reason to take any trouble that these men may accept this or that opinion about thee. Nonetheless thou must exist well tending towards them, for past nature they are friends

There is no man so fortunate that in that location shall non be by him when he is dying some who are pleased with what is going to happen. Examine thyself first

Consider that everything is opinion, and opinion is in thy power. Take away and so, when 1000 choosest, thy opinion, and like a mariner, who has doubled the promontory, chiliad wilt notice calm, everything stable, and a waveless bay

Bandage away opinion: m art saved

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On other people's affairs and fault finding

1 – When you see something you don't similar in someone else (when yous estimate them), expect at yourself starting time. Unremarkably nosotros resist the faults of others considering nosotros see that in ourselves. The judgement is in your mind, non theirs, so ask yourself, who is at fault? The person with the sentence.

When g fine art offended at any homo'due south fault, forthwith turn to thyself and reflect in what like manner thou dost err thyself

ii – Avoid gossip. Practice not business concern yourself with others faults and business organisation. Life is then much easier when you don't concern yourself with trivialities and other people's drama.

Non to meddle with other people's affairs, and not to be ready to listen to slander. not to busy myself about trifling things

Await carefully after the interests of friends, and to tolerate ignorant persons, and those who form opinions without consideration

How much problem he avoids who does not look to encounter what his neighbor says or does or thinks, simply only to what he does himself, that it may exist just and pure; or equally Agathon says, expect non round at the depraved morals of others, but run straight along the line without diffusive from it

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On values and purpose

i – Always speak the truth. Be a person of proficient qualities. Stick to your values and practise not be easily swayed. There is nix stopping yous from living past your values correct at present.

Conformably to justice, that 1000 mayest always speak the truth freely and without disguise, and do the things which are amusing to law and according to the worth of each

Show those qualities and then which are altogether in thy power, sincerity, gravity, endurance of labour, aversion to pleasance, contentment with thy portion and with few things, benevolence, frankness, no love of superfluity, freedom from trifling magnanimity. Dost g non see how many qualities thou fine art immediately able to showroom, in which there is no alibi of natural incapacity and unfitness

Exist like the promontory against which the waves continually break, merely it stands business firm and tames the fury of the water effectually it

2 – Any your purpose, it should be to serve the common interest somehow. If you practice that, things will flow happily for you.

I shall turn an my efforts to the common interest, and divert them from the reverse. Now, if these things are done then, life must catamenia on happily, just as thou mayest notice that the life of a denizen is happy, who continues a grade of action which is advantageous to his fellow-citizens, and is content with whatever the land may assign to him

iii – Your purpose needs to be in alignment with nature. If you follow your true calling according to nature (the universe, God, etc.), things will come up easy. Focus on the task at hand without lark. If you can do this, you will be happy and no one tin take that from yous. Don't do anything for reputation or recognition.

For if these things are according to nature, rejoice in them, and they volition be easy to thee: but if contrary to nature, seek what is conformable to thy own nature, and strive towards this, even if it bring no reputation; for every human is immune to seek his own good

If thou workest at that which is before thee, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract thee, but keeping thy divine function pure, every bit if thou shouldst exist leap to give it back immediately; if thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to nature, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which yard utterest, grand wilt live happy. And there is no man who is able to preclude this

4 – Is what I'm doing (and thinking) right at present helping me fulfill my purpose? Life is short, and then focus on what'south important. Examine the deportment you take and make sure they are helping you lot abound and prosper. Enquire yourself, is this activity/thought good for me? Is it in alignment with my purpose?

On the occasion of every act inquire thyself, How is this with respect to me? Shall I repent of it? A little time and I am dead, and all is gone

5 – Over again, focus on the job at hand and merely do what is important (what is in alignment with your purpose). This could be your last moment, so don't waste product it on trivialities.

Every moment think steadily to do what g hast in paw with perfect and uncomplicated dignity, and feeling of affection, and freedom, and justice; and to give thyself relief from all other thoughts. And g wilt give thyself relief, if thou doest every human activity of thy life as if information technology were the concluding. Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every human action and thought appropriately

6 – What is success to you? Fame and praise? No. That's pointless. Do what y'all take been fabricated for – your purpose.

What so is worth being valued? To exist received with clapping of easily? No. Neither must nosotros value the clapping of tongues, for the praise which comes from the many is a clapping of tongues. Suppose then that thou hast given up this worthless thing called fame, what remains that is worth valuing? This in my opinion, to motion thyself and to restrain thyself in conformity to thy proper constitution, to which end both all employments and arts lead. For every fine art aims at this, that the affair which has been fabricated should exist adapted to the work for which it has been fabricated

vii – Practise not lie for information technology is against your nature and purpose and will only bring yous trouble.

He and so who lies intentionally is guilty of impiety inasmuch as he acts unjustly by deceiving; and he besides who lies unintentionally, inasmuch as he is at variance with the universal nature, and inasmuch as he disturbs the order by fighting confronting the nature of the world; He who does incorrect does wrong confronting himself. He who acts unjustly acts unjustly to himself, because he makes himself bad

If it is not right, do not do information technology: if information technology is non true, practice not say it

eight – Don't allow anyone stand in your manner of your purpose.

Every bit those who try to stand in thy way when thou fine art proceeding according to correct reason, will not exist able to turn thee aside from thy proper activeness, so neither let them drive thee from thy chivalrous feelings towards them, simply be on thy guard as in both matters, not merely in the thing of steady judgement and action, but also in the matter of gentleness towards those who try to hinder or otherwise trouble thee

No homo can rob the states of our free will

9- Never practice annihilation which is against your values.

Never value anything as profitable to thyself which shall compel thee to break thy promise, to lose thy self-respect, to hate any man, to suspect, to expletive, to deed the hypocrite, to desire anything which needs walls and curtains to love my kin, and to love truth, and to honey justice

10 – Actions speak louder than words. So instead of talking most information technology, practice it.

No longer talk at all about the kind of human being that a good human being ought to exist, but be such

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On modify

i – Information technology is nature'due south nature to constantly change. Welcome change!

Often recollect of the rapidity with which things laissez passer by and disappear, both the things which are and the things which are produced. For substance is like a river in a continual catamenia, and the activities of things are in constant change, and the causes work in infinite varieties; and in that location is hardly anything which stands yet. How and so is he not a fool who is puffed upwardly with such things or plagued about them and makes himself miserable? for they vex him simply for a time, and a short time

Universe loves nothing and then much as to change the things which are and to make new things like them

Every part of me then volition be reduced by change into some office of the universe, and that again will modify into another role of the universe, so on for ever

Is any man agape of alter? Why what can take place without change?

The parts of the whole, everything, I mean, which is naturally comprehended in the universe, must of necessity perish; but let this be understood in this sense, that they must undergo change

Consider whence each thing is come up, and of what it consists, and into what it changes, and what kind of a affair it will be when it has inverse, and that it will sustain no impairment

Consider that presently thou wilt be nobody and nowhere, nor volition any of the things exist which thou now seest, nor any of those who are now living. For all things are formed by nature to change and be turned and to perish in order that other things in continuous succession may exist

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On failure and obstacles

one – If you fail, attempt again. There is no shame in declining. In that location are no mistakes in nature.

Be not disgusted, nor discouraged, nor dissatisfied, if grand dost not succeed in doing everything according to right principles; but when k bast failed, return back again, and exist content if the greater part of what thou doest is consequent with man'southward nature, and dearest this to which thou returnest

2 – Turn obstacles into opportunities.

For the heed converts and changes every hindrance to its activeness into an aid; and and then that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act; and that which is an obstacle on the route helps u.s. on this road

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On your thoughts

1 – Your habitual thoughts shape who you are.  Are your thoughts effective or subversive?

Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will exist the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts. Dye information technology then with a continuous series of such thoughts

two – Be cheerful in all circumstances. No matter what is happening in your life, yous tin cull to be cheerful to yourself and others.

cheerfulness in all circumstances

iii – There is no good or bad, only opinions of something's nature.

Allow the part which forms opinions about these things be quiet, that is, let information technology approximate that nothing is either bad or skilful which can happen equally to the bad man and the expert. For that which happens equally to him who lives contrary to nature and to him who lives according to nature, is neither according to nature nor opposite to nature

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On gratitude

1 – Appreciate what you have

Call back not then much of what g hast not equally of what g hast: but of the things which m hast select the best, and so reflect how eagerly they would take been sought, if thou hadst them not. At the same time however have intendance that m dost not through being so pleased with them accustom thyself to overvalue them, and so as to be disturbed if ever thou shouldst non have them

2 – Live everyday equally a souvenir and alive by your true purpose in life.

Consider thyself to be expressionless, and to have completed thy life up to the present time; and live co-ordinate to nature the remainder which is allowed thee

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On being present

i – Focus on the present moment. At present is all we volition ever have.

For the present is the only matter of which a man can be deprived, if it is true that this is the but thing which he has, and that a human being cannot lose a matter if he has it not

two – Don't worry about the future

Permit not future things disturb thee, for one thousand wilt come to them, if it shall be necessary, having with thee the aforementioned reason which now thou usest for present things

Nosotros must not chale and fret at that which happens

three – Don't fear the hereafter or regret the past

Do not disturb thyself past thinking of the whole of thy life. Let non thy thoughts at once embrace all the various troubles which thou mayest expect to befall thee: but on every occasion ask thyself, What is at that place in this which is intolerable and past bearing? For yard wilt be ashamed to confess. In the adjacent place remember that neither the time to come nor the past pains thee, but only the nowadays

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On nature

1 – Nature'southward nature – nosotros are all part of a whole, then act in accordance with that mentality. When you human activity from your nature, things are effortless.

Whether the universe is a concourse of atoms, or nature is a system, let this first exist established, that I am a office of the whole which is governed by nature; next, I am in a manner intimately related to the parts which are of the same kind with myself. The whole contains nada which is non for its reward; and all natures indeed have this common principle, but the nature of the universe has this principle besides, that it cannot be compelled even by whatever external cause to generate anything harmful to itself. By remembering, so, that I am a office of such a whole, I shall exist content with everything  that happens.

That which rules within, when it is according to nature, is so affected with respect to the events which happen, that it ever easily adapts itself to that which is and is presented to it

For to exist vexed at anything which happens is a separation of ourselves from nature, in some part of which the natures of all other things are independent

ii – Practice we live in a world of fate or will? Be one with nature because it doesn't matter if there is a God or if we are ruled past chance. Either fashion, being with nature is the best route to take.

The periodic movements of the universe are the aforementioned, up and downwardly from historic period to historic period. And either the universal intelligence puts itself in movement for every split effect, and if this is so, be thou content with that which is the result of its activity; or it puts itself in motion once, and everything else comes by way of sequence in a manner; or indivisible elements are the origin of all things.- In a word, if there is a god, all is well; and if chance rules, do not grand also be governed past information technology

Either all things proceed from one intelligent source and come together as in 1 trunk, and the part ought not to observe fault with what is done for the benefit of the whole; or at that place are simply atoms, and goose egg else than mixture and dispersion. Why, then, art thou disturbed?

iii – You are of this universe and when you find your purpose and are in harmony with nature, you will be found.

If thousand shalt exist afraid not considering thou must some time end to live, but if yard shalt fear never to accept begun to live according to nature- and so m wilt be a man worthy of the universe which has produced thee, and one thousand wilt cease to be a stranger in thy native land,

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On complaining

1 – Do not waste matter your express fourth dimension here lament. Instead of complaining, take action. What happens to yous is meant to happen, so why bother complaining about it and bringing more than attention to it? Go rid of your opinions on the matter and your complaint will go abroad.

If thou fine art pained past any external affair, it is non this thing that disturbs thee, but thy ain judgement most it. And it is in thy ability to wipe out this judgement at present; why dost thou not rather deed than complain?

Nada can happen to any man which is not a human accident, nor to an ox which is not co-ordinate to the nature of an ox, nor to a vine which is not according to the nature of a vine, nor to a stone which is not proper to a stone. If then there happens to each thing both what is usual and natural, why shouldst thou complain? For the common nature brings nothing which may non be borne by thee

Take away thy opinion, and so there is taken away the complaint

two – Think of those who came before you who complained about things. They are gone, and so save your jiff considering complaining won't help you in whatever manner.

Constantly bring to thy recollection those who have complained greatly about anything, those who have been most conspicuous by the greatest fame or misfortunes or enmities or fortunes of any kind: then think where are they all now? Smoke and ash and a tale, or non fifty-fifty a tale

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On praise and pride

1 – Do not seek praise. Y'all don't need praise or pride to fulfill your purpose. Do not seek substance in the opinions of others (see opinion section).

Dost thou wish to exist praised by a man who curses himself thrice every hour? Wouldst thou wish to please a man who does non please himself? Does a man delight himself who repents of nearly everything that he does?

Everything which is in any mode beautiful is beautiful in itself, and terminates in itself, not having praise as function of itself

Think of the eager pursuit of anything conjoined with pride; and how worthless everything is after which men violently strain

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On emotions

1 – Be in control of your emotions. Don't let your acrimony and frustration go the all-time of y'all. Information technology is much more human to be gentle, kind, courageous, and under control of yourself. These other emotions are animalistic tendencies. Anger and frustration are signs of weakness. They are signs of someone who is out of command.  Strive to be in control of yourself.

And let this truth be nowadays to thee in the excitement of anger, that to be moved by passion is not manly, simply that mildness and gentleness, as they are more agreeable to human nature, so also are they more than manly; and he who possesses these qualities possesses strength, nerves and courage, and not the man who is discipline to fits of passion and discontent. For in the same degree in which a human's mind is nearer to freedom from all passion, in the same degree also is it nearer to strength: and as the sense of hurting is a feature of weakness, so also is anger. For he who yields to hurting and he who yields to anger, both are wounded and both submit

We are all one, and what I exercise must be good for the whole never to be overpowered either by the motion of the senses or of the appetites, for both are fauna; simply the intelligent movement  claims superiority and does not let itself to be overpowered past the others

Marcus Aurelius Meditations – On helping others

1 – Help others. This should exist in line with your purpose in life. When your purpose is aligned with helping others, you lot're on the right path.

Requite assist to all according to thy ability and their fitness. There is just 1 fruit of this terrene life, a pious disposition and social acts

2 – Help others and don't look annihilation in render. Don't gloat virtually your good deeds.

One man, when he has done a service to some other, is fix to set information technology down to his account equally a favour conferred. Another is not gear up to do this, but nevertheless in his own listen he thinks of the homo as his debtor, and he knows what he has done. A 3rd in a manner does not even know what he has done, only he is similar a vine which has produced grapes, and seeks for nothing more than later information technology has once produced its proper fruit

And then a man when he has done a practiced act, does not phone call out for others to come up and come across, but he goes on to another act

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