Meditations

When a man has presented the appearance of having done wrong [say], How then do I know if this is a wrongful act? And even if he has done wrong, how do I know that he has not condemned himself? And so this is like tearing his own face. Consider that he who would not have the bad man do wrong, is like the man who would not have the fig-tree to bear juice in the figs, and infants to cry, and the horse to neigh, and whatever else must of necessity be. For what must a man do who has such a character? If then thou art irritable, + cure this man's disposition.

Plain English · paraphraseWhen a man seems to have done wrong, ask: How do I know this is a wrongful act? And even if he has done wrong, how do I know he hasn't condemned himself? This is like tearing his own face. Consider that the one who does not want the bad man to do wrong is like the one who does not want the fig-tree to have juice in the figs, or infants to cry, or the horse to neigh, or anything else that must necessarily be. What then must a man do who has such a character? If you are irritable, cure this man's disposition.

If it is not right, do not do it: if it is not true, do not say it. [For let thy efforts be - ]

First, do nothing inconsiderately, nor without a purpose. Second, make thy acts refer to nothing else than to a social end.

Plain English · paraphraseFirst, do nothing thoughtlessly or without a purpose. Second, let your actions be directed toward nothing other than a social purpose.

Consider that before long thou wilt be nobody and nowhere, nor will 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 (ix. 28).

Plain English · paraphraseRemember that soon you will be nothing and nowhere, and none of the things you now see will exist, nor will any of the people who are alive now. For everything is made by nature to change, to turn, and to die, so that other things can come in their place, one after another. (ix. 28)

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

Plain English · paraphraseUnderstand that everything is based on opinion, and opinion is under your control. When you choose, remove your opinion, and like a sailor who has passed the headland, you will find peace, everything steady, and a calm bay.

Any one activity, whatever it may be, when it has ceased at its proper time, suffers no evil because it has ceased; nor he who has done this act, does he suffer any evil for this reason, that the act has ceased. In like manner then the whole, which consists of all the acts, which is our life, if it cease at its proper time, suffers no evil for this reason, that it has ceased; nor he who has terminated this series at the proper time, has he been ill dealt with. But the proper time and the limit nature fixes, sometimes as in old age the peculiar nature of man, but always the universal nature, by the change of whose parts the whole universe continues ever young and perfect. And everything which is useful to the universal is always good and in season. Therefore the termination of life for every man is no evil, because neither is it shameful, since it is both independent of the will and not opposed to the general interest, but it is good, since it is seasonable, and profitable to and congruent with the universal. For thus too he is moved by the Deity who is moved in the same manner with the Deity, and moved towards the same thing in his mind.

Plain English · paraphraseAny one activity, whatever it may be, when it has ended at its proper time, suffers no harm because it has ended; nor does the person who performed this action suffer any harm for this reason, that the action has ended. In the same way, the whole, which consists of all the actions, which is our life, if it ends at its proper time, suffers no harm for this reason, that it has ended; nor is the one who ends this series at the proper time treated badly. But the proper time and the limit are set by nature, sometimes as in old age by the specific nature of man, but always by the universal nature, through the change of whose parts the whole universe remains always young and perfect. And everything that is useful to the universal is always good and timely. Therefore, the end of life for every person is no evil, because it is not shameful, since it is both independent of the will and not opposed to the general interest, but it is good, since it is timely, and beneficial to and in harmony with the universal. For in this way too, he is moved by the Deity who is moved in the same manner as the Deity, and moved toward the same thing in his mind.

These three principles thou must have in readiness: In the things which thou doest, do nothing either inconsiderately or otherwise than as justice herself would act; but with respect to what may happen to thee from without, consider that it happens either by chance or according to providence, and thou must neither blame chance nor accuse providence. Second, consider what every being is from the seed to the time of its receiving a soul, and from the reception of a soul to the giving back of the same, and of what things every being is compounded, and into what things it is resolved. Third, if thou shouldst suddenly be raised up above the earth, and shouldst look down on human things, and observe the variety of them how great it is, and at the same time also shouldst see at a glance how great is the number of beings who dwell all around in the air and the ether, consider that as often as thou shouldst be raised up, thou wouldst see the same things, sameness of form and shortness of duration. Are these things to be proud of?

Cast away opinion: thou art saved. Who then hinders thee from casting it away?

Plain English · paraphraseGet rid of your opinion; you are saved. Then who stops you from getting rid of it?

When thou art troubled about anything, thou hast forgotten this, that all things happen according to the universal nature; and forgotten this, that a man's wrongful act is nothing to thee; and further thou hast forgotten this, that everything which happens, always happened so and will happen so, and now happens so everywhere; forgotten this too, how close is the kinship between a man and the whole human race, for it is a community, not of a little blood or seed, but of intelligence. And thou hast forgotten this too, that every man's intelligence is a god and is an efflux of the Deity; and forgotten this, that nothing is a man's own, but that his child and his body and his very soul came from the Deity; forgotten this, that everything is opinion; and lastly thou hast forgotten that every man lives the present time only, and loses only this.

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 not even a tale. And let there be present to thy mind also everything of this sort, how Fabius Catellinus lived in the country, and Lucius Lupus in his gardens, and Stertinius at Briae, and Tiberius at Capreae, and Velius Rufus [or Rufus at Velia]; and in fine think of the eager pursuit of anything conjoined with pride; and how worthless everything is after which men violently strain; and how much more philosophical it is for a man in the opportunities presented to him to show himself just, temperate, obedient to the gods, and to do this with all simplicity: for the pride which is proud of its want of pride is the most intolerable of all.

Plain English · paraphraseAlways remember those who complained a lot about anything, those who were most famous for great fame or misfortunes or enmities or any kind of fortune. Now ask yourself, where are they? Smoke and ash and a story, or not even a story. Keep in your mind also everything like this: how Fabius Catellinus lived in the country, and Lucius Lupus in his gardens, and Stertinius at Briae, and Tiberius at Capreae, and Velius Rufus [or Rufus at Velia]. In the end, think about the eager pursuit of anything joined with pride. How worthless everything is that men violently chase. How much more philosophical it is for a man, in the opportunities given to him, to show himself just, temperate, obedient to the gods, and to do this with complete simplicity. For the pride that is proud of its lack of pride is the most unbearable of all.

To those who ask, Where hast thou seen the gods, or how dost thou comprehend that they exist and so worshippest them, I answer, in the first place, they may be seen even with the eyes; in the second place, neither have I seen even my own soul, and yet I honor it. Thus then with respect to the gods, from what I constantly experience of their power, from this I comprehend that they exist, and I venerate them. Gataker, whose notes are a wonderful collection of learning, and all of it sound and good, quotes a passage of Calvin which is founded on St. Paul's language (Rom. i. v. 20): "God by creating the universe [or world, mundum], being himself invisible, has presented himself to our eyes conspicuously in a certain visible form." He also quotes Seneca (De Benef. iv. c. 8): "Quocunque te flexeris, ibi illum videbis occurrentem tibi: nihil ab illo vacat, opus suum ipse implet." Compare also Cicero, De Senectute (c. 22), Xenophon's Cyropaedia (viii. 7), and Mem. iv. 3; also Epictetus, i. 6, de Providentia. I think that my interpretation of Antoninus is right.

Plain English · paraphraseTo those who ask, "Where have you seen the gods, or how do you know they exist and so worship them," I answer, first, they can be seen even with the eyes; second, I have not even seen my own soul, and yet I honor it. So with the gods, from what I constantly experience of their power, from this I know they exist, and I venerate them. Gataker, whose notes are a wonderful collection of learning, and all of it sound and good, quotes a passage of Calvin which is founded on St. Paul's language (Rom. i. v. 20): "God, being himself invisible, has presented himself to our eyes conspicuously in a certain visible form by creating the universe [or world, mundum]." He also quotes Seneca (De Benef. iv. c. 8): "Wherever you turn your gaze, you will see him meeting you there: nothing is empty of him, he himself fills his own work." Compare also Cicero, De Senectute (c. 22), Xenophon's Cyropaedia (viii. 7), and Mem. iv. 3; also Epictetus, i. 6, de Providentia. I think that my interpretation of Antoninus is right.

The safety of life is this, to examine everything all through, what it is itself, that is its material, what the formal part; with all thy soul to do justice and to say the truth. What remains, except to enjoy life by joining one good thing to another so as not to leave even the smallest intervals between?

There is one light of the sun, though it is interrupted by walls, mountains, and other things infinite. There is one common substance, though it is distributed among countless bodies which have their several qualities. There is one soul, though it is distributed among infinite natures and individual circumscriptions [or individuals]. There is one intelligent soul, though it seems to be divided. Now in the things which have been mentioned, all the other parts, such as those which are air and matter, are without sensation and have no fellowship: and yet even these parts the intelligent principle holds together and the gravitation towards the same. But intellect in a peculiar manner tends to that which is of the same kin, and combines with it, and the feeling for communion is not interrupted.

What dost thou wish - to continue to exist? Well, dost thou wish to have sensation, movement, growth, and then again to cease to grow, to use thy speech, to think? What is there of all these things which seems to thee worth desiring? But if it is easy to set little value on all these things, turn to that which remains, which is to follow reason and God. But it is inconsistent with honoring reason and God to be troubled because by death a man will be deprived of the other things.

How small a part of the boundless and unfathomable time is assigned to every man, for it is very soon swallowed up in the eternal! And how small a part of the whole substance; and how small a part of the universal soul; and on what a small clod of the whole earth thou creepest! Reflecting on all this, consider nothing to be great, except to act as thy nature leads thee, and to endure that which the common nature brings.

Plain English · paraphraseHow small a part of the endless and bottomless time is given to each person, for it is quickly taken up in the eternal! And how small a part of the whole substance; and how small a part of the universal soul; and on what a small piece of the whole earth you move! Thinking about all this, consider nothing to be great, except to act as your nature leads you, and to endure what the common nature brings.

This reflection is most adapted to move us to contempt of death, that even those who think pleasure to be a good and pain an evil still have despised it.

Plain English · paraphraseThis thought is very good for helping us look down on death, because even those who believe pleasure is good and pain is bad still look down on death.

The man to whom that only is good which comes in due season, and to whom it is the same thing whether he has done more or fewer acts conformable to right reason, and to whom it makes no difference whether he contemplates the world for a longer or a shorter time - for this man neither is death a terrible thing (iii. 7; vi. 23; x. 20; xii. 23).

Man, thou hast been a citizen in this great state [the world]; what difference does it make to thee whether for five years [or three]? for that which is conformable to the laws is just for all. Where is the hardship then, if no tyrant nor yet an unjust judge sends thee away from the state, but nature, who brought thee into it? the same as if a praetor who has employed an actor dismisses him from the stage. - "But I have not finished the five acts, but only three of them." - Thou sayest well, but in life the three acts are the whole drama; for what shall be a complete drama is determined by him who was once the cause of its composition, and now of its dissolution: but thou art the cause of neither. Depart then satisfied, for he also who releases thee is satisfied.

Plain English · paraphraseMan, you have lived in this great city [the world]; what difference does it make to you whether you lived for five years or three? Because what follows the laws is right for everyone. What is the problem then, if no tyrant or unjust judge sends you away from the city, but nature, who brought you into it? It's the same as if a judge who hired an actor ends his time on stage. "But I haven't finished the five acts, only three of them." You speak rightly, but in life, the three acts are the whole play; because whether a play is complete is decided by the one who caused it to be made and now ends it. But you are not the cause of either. Then leave content, for the one who lets you go is also content.