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Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

§ Section 39

Book Eleven

11:39

Book Subtitle: The classic from Marcus Aurelius.

Book Description: The personal notes of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. This book has influenced many throughout history from students to statesmen. It's an inside look at a brilliant and thoughtful man working on living well. The emperor and philosopher's thoughts are crucial to understand for any Stoic seeking to do their best in a complex world.

Chapter Subtitle: These are the properties of the rational soul: it sees itself, analyses itself, and makes itself such as it chooses; the fruit which it bears itself enjoys- for the fruits of plants and that in animals which corresponds to fruits others enjoy- it obtains its own end, wherever the limit of life may be fixed.

39. Socrates used to say, What do you want?

Souls of rational men or irrational?

- Souls of rational men.

- Of what rational men?

Sound or unsound?

- Sound.

- Why then do you not seek for them?

- Because we have them.

- Why then do you fight and quarrel?