Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 11.2 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.2
Thou wilt set little value on pleasing song and dancing and the pancratium, if thou wilt distribute the melody of the voice into its several sounds, and ask thyself as to each, if thou art mastered by this; for thou wilt be prevented by shame from confessing it: and in the matter of dancing, if at each movement and attitude thou wilt do the same; and the like also in the matter of the pancratium. In all things, then, except virtue and the acts of virtue, remember to apply thyself to their several parts, and by this division to come to value them little: and apply this rule also to thy whole life.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.2, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/11.2
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesTo loosen the grip of an attractive pleasure such as music, dance or spectator sport, break it into its separate parts, a single note, a single movement, a single move, and ask honestly whether any one of them really masters you. Apply this to everything except virtue, and to your whole life.
Older wording
- “pancratium”
- — an ancient combat sport combining boxing and wrestling
Themes and situations
- Desire and craving
- Pleasure and pain
- Self-discipline and habit
- Simplicity and frugality
- Breaking a bad habit
- Money, status and wanting more
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