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Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

§ Section 50

Book Six

6:50

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: 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.

50. Let us try to persuade them (men).

But act even against their will, when the principles of justice lead that way.

If however any man by using force stands in your way, betake yourself to contentment and tranquility, and at the same time employ the hindrance towards the exercise of some other virtue; and remember that your attempt was with a reservation, that you did not desire to do impossibilities.

What then did you desire?

- Some such effort as this.

- But you attain your object, if the things to which you wast moved are accomplished.