Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 10.3 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.3
Everything which happens either happens in such wise as thou art formed by nature to bear it, or as thou art not formed by nature to bear it. If, then, it happens to thee in such way as thou art formed by nature to bear it, do not complain, but bear it as thou art formed by nature to bear it. But if it happens in such wise as thou art not formed by nature to bear it, do not complain, for it will perish after it has consumed thee. Remember, however, that thou art formed by nature to bear everything, with respect to which it depends on thy own opinion to make it endurable and tolerable, by thinking that it is either thy interest or thy duty to do this.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.3, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/10.3
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWhatever happens is either something you are built to bear, so bear it without complaining, or something too much for you, which will run its course anyway, so complaining gets you nowhere. And most hardships can be made bearable by your own opinion, by seeing that enduring them serves your interest or your duty.
Older wording
- “in such wise”
- — in such a way
Themes and situations
- Resilience and endurance
- Acceptance and fate
- Adversity and hardship
- Judgements and impressions
- Anxiety about the future
- Burnout and overwork
- Illness or diagnosis
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