Friday, February 23, 2018

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Quotes IV

-It is one of the acts of life, this act by which we die: it is sufficient then in this act also to do well what we have in hand.
-All existing things soon change, and they will either be reduced to vapor, if indeed all substance is one, or they will be dispersed.
-The reason that governs knows what its own disposition is, and what it does, and on what material it works.
-Every single thing is accomplished in conformity to the nature of the universe.
-You will have more mastery over the harmony by continually recurring to it.
-Outward show is a wonderful perverter of reason, and when you are most sure that you are employed about things worth your pains, it is then that it cheats you most.
-What then is worth being valued?
-If any man is able to convince me and show me that I do not think or act right, I will gladly change; for I seek the truth by which no man was ever injured. But he is injured who abides in his error and ignorance.
-It is your duty to observe and to go on your way and finish that which is set before you without being disturbed or showing anger toward those who are angry with you.
-Teach them then, and show them without being angry.
-Death is a cessation of the impressions through the senses, and of the pulling of the strings that move the appetites, and of the discursive movements of the thoughts, and of the service to the flesh.
-It is a shame of the soul to be first to give way in this life, when your body does not give way.
-Keep yourself simple, good, pure, serious, free from affectation, a friend of justice, a worshiper of the gods, kind, affectionate, strenuous in all proper acts.
-All things come from that universal ruling power either directly or mediately.
-All things are of one kin and of one form.
-Adapt yourself to the things with which your lot has been cast: and the men  among whom you have received your portion, love them, but do it truly, sincerely.
-Remains then for you to understand among what kind of workmen you place yourself; for he who rules all things will certainly make right use of you, and he will receive you among some part of the cooperators and of those whose labors conduce to one end.
-Is not each star different yet working with the others toward the same end?
-If the gods have deliberated about me and about the things must happen to me, they have determined well, for it is not easy to imagine a deity deprived of forethought; and as to doing me harm, why should they have any desire toward that?
-One thing here is worth a great deal: to pass your life in truth and justice, with a benevolent disposition even to liars and unjust men.
-Nothing delights so much as the examples of the virtues when they are exhibited in the morals of those who live with us and present themselves in abundance, as far as is possible. Hence, we must keep them before us.
-Do not be dissatisfied then that you must live only so many years and not more; for as you are satisfied with the amount of substance that has been assigned to you, so be content with the time.
-It is in our power to have no opinion about a thing and not to be disturbed in our soul.
-How many together with whom I came into the world are already gone out of it!
-No man will hinder you from living according to the reason of your own nature: nothing will happen to you contrary to the reason of universal nature.
-What kind of people are those whom men wish to please, and for what objects, and by what kind of acts? How soon will time cover all things, and how many it has covered already.

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