16. Neither is transpiration, as in plants, a thing to be valued, nor respiration, as in domesticated animals and wild beasts, nor the receiving of impressions by the appearances of things, nor being moved by desires as puppets by strings, nor assembling in herds, nor being nourished by food; for this is just like the act of separating and parting with the useless part of our food.
What then is worth being valued?
To be received with clapping of hands?
No.
Neither must we value the clapping of tongues, for the praise which comes from the many is a clapping of tongues.
Suppose then that you have given up this worthless thing called fame, what remains that is worth valuing?
This in my opinion, to move yourself and to restrain yourself in conformity to your proper constitution, to which end both all employments and arts lead.
For every art aims at this, that the thing which has been made should be adapted to the work for which it has been made; and both the vine-planter who looks after the vine, and the horse-breaker, and he who trains the dog, seek this end.
But the education and the teaching of youth aim at something.
In this then is the value of the education and the teaching.
And if this is well, you will not seek anything else.
Will you not cease to value many other things too?
Then you will be neither free, nor sufficient for your own happiness, nor without passion.
For of necessity you must be envious, jealous, and suspicious of those who can take away those things, and plot against those who have that which is valued by you Of necessity a man must be altogether in a state of perturbation who wants any of these things; and besides, he must often find fault with the gods.
But to reverence and honour your own mind will make you content with yourself and in harmony with society, and in agreement with the gods, that is, praising all that they give and have ordered.
Book: Meditations
Subtitle: The classic from Marcus Aurelius.
Author: Marcus Aurelius
Chapter: Book Six
Chapter Subtitle: The substance of the universe is obedient and compliant; and the reason which governs it has in itself no cause for doing evil, for it has no malice, nor does it do evil to anything, nor is anything harmed by it.
Location: Chapter 6, Section 16
Content:
16. Neither is transpiration, as in plants, a thing to be valued, nor respiration, as in domesticated animals and wild beasts, nor the receiving of impressions by the appearances of things, nor being moved by desires as puppets by strings, nor assembling in herds, nor being nourished by food; for this is just like the act of separating and parting with the useless part of our food.
What then is worth being valued?
To be received with clapping of hands?
No.
Neither must we value the clapping of tongues, for the praise which comes from the many is a clapping of tongues.
Suppose then that you have given up this worthless thing called fame, what remains that is worth valuing?
This in my opinion, to move yourself and to restrain yourself in conformity to your proper constitution, to which end both all employments and arts lead.
For every art aims at this, that the thing which has been made should be adapted to the work for which it has been made; and both the vine-planter who looks after the vine, and the horse-breaker, and he who trains the dog, seek this end.
But the education and the teaching of youth aim at something.
In this then is the value of the education and the teaching.
And if this is well, you will not seek anything else.
Will you not cease to value many other things too?
Then you will be neither free, nor sufficient for your own happiness, nor without passion.
For of necessity you must be envious, jealous, and suspicious of those who can take away those things, and plot against those who have that which is valued by you Of necessity a man must be altogether in a state of perturbation who wants any of these things; and besides, he must often find fault with the gods.
But to reverence and honour your own mind will make you content with yourself and in harmony with society, and in agreement with the gods, that is, praising all that they give and have ordered.