Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library Classics)

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Then what should you work for? Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech. A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like water from that same source and spring. 4.33 Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly. 7.56 Everything you’re trying to reach–by taking the long way round–you could have right now, this moment. If you’d only stop thwarting your own attempts. If you’d only let go of the past, entrust the future to God, and guide the present towards reverence and justice. 12.1 The body and its parts are a river, the soul is a dream and mist, life is warfare and a journey far from home, lasting reputation is oblivion. 2.17 The third discipline of will is in a sense the counterpart to the second, the discipline of action. Action governs our approach to the things in our control. The discipline of will governs our attitude to things that are not within our control

What is divinedeservesour respect because it is good; what is human deserves our affection because it is like us. 2.13

The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the quality of your thoughts. 5.16 To live a good life: We have the potential for it If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference. 11.16 The mind without passion is a fortress. No place is more secure. Once we take refuge there we are safe forever. 8.48 It never ceases toamazeme: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own. 12.4

The discipline of perception requires that we maintain absolute objectivity of thought: that we see things dispassionately for what they are. It’s the pursuit of these things, and your attempts to avoid them, that leave your mind in such turmoil. And yet they aren’t seeking you out; you are the one seeking them.Suspendjudgmentabout them. And at once they will lie still, and you will be freed from fleeing and pursuing. 11.11 Not to be driven this way and that, but to always behave with justice and to see things as they are. 4.22 The things ordained for you–teach yourself to be at one with those. And to the people who share them with you–treat them with love. With real love. 6.39 This requires not merely passiveacquiescence in what happens, but active cooperation with the world, with fate and, above all,with other human beings. We were made, Marcus tells us over and over, not for ourselves but for others, and our nature is fundamentally unselfish. In our relationship with others we must work for their collective good, while treating them justly and fairly as possible.

Something (bad) happens to you. Good. It was meant for you by nature, woven into the pattern from the beginning. 3.26 Humans were made to help others. And when we do help others–or help them do something–we’re doing what we weredesignedfor. We perform our function. 9.42

Then where is the harm to be found? In your capacity to see it. Stop doing that and everything will be fine. 4.39 To follow the logos in all things is to be relaxed and energetic, joyful and serious at once. 10.12 Enter their minds, and you’ll find the judges you’re so afraid of–and how judiciously they judge themselves. 9.18 Our duty is to exercise stringent control over the faculty of perception, with the aim of protecting our mind from error. To move from one unselfish action to another with God in mind. Only there, delight and stillness. 6.7Forget the future. When and if it comes, you’ll have the same resources to draw on–the same logos. 7.8

Externalthings are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them… And if it’s that you’re not doingsomethingyou think you should be, why not just do it? 8.47It’s unfortunate that this has happened. No. It is fortunate that this has happened and I’ve remained unharmed by it–not shattered by the present or frightened of the future. 4.49 It would be wrong for anything to stand between you and attaining goodness — as a rational being and a citizen. 3.6 If you can cut free of impressions that cling to the mind, of future and past–then you can spend the time you have left in tranquility. And in kindness. And at peace with the spirit within you. 12.3