Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 3.12 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.12
If thou workest at that which is before thee, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract thee, but keeping thy divine part pure, as if thou shouldst be bound to give it back immediately; if thou holdest to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with thy present activity according to nature, and with heroic truth in every word and sound which thou utterest, thou wilt live happy. And there is no man who is able to prevent this.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.12, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/3.12
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIf you focus on the task in front of you with seriousness, calm and honesty, keep your mind clean as though you must hand it back at any moment, and neither expect rewards nor fear outcomes, you will be happy. No one can stop you from living this way.
Older wording
- “right reason”
- — clear, sound reasoning
- “divine part”
- — your reasoning mind
Themes and situations
- Duty and roles
- Peace of mind
- Virtue and character
- Fear and anxiety
- Acceptance and fate
- Anxiety about the future
- Fear of failure
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