Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 4.26 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.26
Hast thou seen those things? Look also at these. Do not disturb thyself. Make thyself all simplicity. Does anyone do wrong? It is to himself that he does the wrong. Has anything happened to thee? Well; out of the universe from the beginning everything which happens has been apportioned and spun out to thee. In a word, thy life is short. Thou must turn to profit the present by the aid of reason and justice. Be sober in thy relaxation.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.26, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/4.26
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesDo not upset yourself, and keep things simple. If someone does wrong, the harm is mostly to themselves, and whatever happens to you has been part of your lot from the start. Your life is short, so use the present wisely and fairly and keep your downtime moderate.
Older wording
- “apportioned and spun out”
- — allotted to you as part of your fate
- “sober in thy relaxation”
- — moderate in your leisure
Themes and situations
- Peace of mind
- Acceptance and fate
- Anger
- Time and the present
- Simplicity and frugality
- Being angry with someone
- Anxiety about the future
- Feeling life is slipping by
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