Book Eight
8:41
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: This reflection also tends to the removal of the desire of empty fame, that it is no longer in your power to have lived the whole of your life, or at least your life from your youth upwards, like a philosopher; but both to many others and to yourself it is plain that you art far from philosophy.
41. Hindrance to the perceptions of sense is an evil to the animal nature.
Hindrance to the movements (desires) is equally an evil to the animal nature.
And something else also is equally an impediment and an evil to the constitution of plants.
So then that which is a hindrance to the intelligence is an evil to the intelligent nature.
Apply all these things then to yourself Does pain or sensuous pleasure affect you?
The senses will look to that.
- Has any obstacle opposed you in your efforts towards an object?
If indeed you wast making this effort absolutely (unconditionally, or without any reservation), certainly this obstacle is an evil to you considered as a rational animal.
But if you take into consideration the usual course of things, you have not yet been injured nor even impeded.
The things however which are proper to the understanding no other man is used to impede, for neither fire, nor iron, nor tyrant, nor abuse, touches it in any way.
When it has been made a sphere, it continues a sphere.
Book: Meditations
Subtitle: The classic from Marcus Aurelius.
Author: Marcus Aurelius
Chapter: Book Eight
Chapter Subtitle: This reflection also tends to the removal of the desire of empty fame, that it is no longer in your power to have lived the whole of your life, or at least your life from your youth upwards, like a philosopher; but both to many others and to yourself it is plain that you art far from philosophy.
Location: Chapter 8, Section 41
Content:
41. Hindrance to the perceptions of sense is an evil to the animal nature.
Hindrance to the movements (desires) is equally an evil to the animal nature.
And something else also is equally an impediment and an evil to the constitution of plants.
So then that which is a hindrance to the intelligence is an evil to the intelligent nature.
Apply all these things then to yourself Does pain or sensuous pleasure affect you?
The senses will look to that.
- Has any obstacle opposed you in your efforts towards an object?
If indeed you wast making this effort absolutely (unconditionally, or without any reservation), certainly this obstacle is an evil to you considered as a rational animal.
But if you take into consideration the usual course of things, you have not yet been injured nor even impeded.
The things however which are proper to the understanding no other man is used to impede, for neither fire, nor iron, nor tyrant, nor abuse, touches it in any way.
When it has been made a sphere, it continues a sphere.