Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 4.31 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.31
Love the art, poor as it may be, which thou hast learned, and be content with it; and pass through the rest of life like one who has entrusted to the gods with his whole soul all that he has, making thyself neither the tyrant nor the slave of any man.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.31, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/4.31
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesLove the craft you have learned, however humble, and be content with it. Go through the rest of life having handed everything else over to the gods, neither lording it over anyone nor being anyone's servant.
Older wording
- “art”
- — a craft or trade
Themes and situations
- Duty and roles
- Peace of mind
- Freedom
- Acceptance and fate
- Simplicity and frugality
- Searching for meaning
- Envy and comparison
- A difficult boss
Quote cards
The opening line of this passage as an image, with its citation — for sharing or keeping.