Book Five
5:16
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: In he morning when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present- I am rising to the work of a human being.
16. Such as are your habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.
Dye it then with a continuous series of such thoughts as these: for instance, that where a man can live, there he can also live well.
But he must live in a palace;- well then, he can also live well in a palace.
And again, consider that for whatever purpose each thing has been constituted, for this it has been constituted, and towards this it is carried; and its end is in that towards which it is carried; and where the end is, there also is the advantage and the good of each thing.
Now the good for the reasonable animal is society; for that we are made for society has been shown above.
Is it not plain that the inferior exist for the sake of the superior?
But the things which have life are superior to those which have not life, and of those which have life the superior are those which have reason.
Book: Meditations
Subtitle: The classic from Marcus Aurelius.
Author: Marcus Aurelius
Chapter: Book Five
Chapter Subtitle: In he morning when you rise unwillingly, let this thought be present- I am rising to the work of a human being.
Location: Chapter 5, Section 16
Content:
16. Such as are your habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.
Dye it then with a continuous series of such thoughts as these: for instance, that where a man can live, there he can also live well.
But he must live in a palace;- well then, he can also live well in a palace.
And again, consider that for whatever purpose each thing has been constituted, for this it has been constituted, and towards this it is carried; and its end is in that towards which it is carried; and where the end is, there also is the advantage and the good of each thing.
Now the good for the reasonable animal is society; for that we are made for society has been shown above.
Is it not plain that the inferior exist for the sake of the superior?
But the things which have life are superior to those which have not life, and of those which have life the superior are those which have reason.