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Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

§ Section 36

Book Five

5:36

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.

36. Do not be carried along inconsiderately by the appearance of things, but give help to all according to your ability and their fitness; and if they should have sustained loss in matters which are indifferent, do not imagine this to be a damage.

For it is a bad habit.

But as the old man, when he went away, asked back his foster-child's top, remembering that it was a top, so do you in this case also.

When you are calling out on the Rostra, have you forgotten, man, what these things are?

- Yes; but they are objects of great concern to these people- will you too then be made a fool for these things?

- I was once a fortunate man, but I lost it, I know not how.

- But fortunate means that a man has assigned to himself a good fortune: and a good fortune is good disposition of the soul, good emotions, good actions.