Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 7.27 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.27
Think not so much of what thou hast not as of what thou hast: but of the things which thou hast select the best, and then reflect how eagerly they would have been sought, if thou hadst them not. At the same time however take care that thou dost not through being so pleased with them accustom thyself to overvalue them, so as to be disturbed if ever thou shouldst not have them.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.27, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/7.27
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesFocus on what you already have rather than what you lack, pick out the best of it, and imagine how badly you would want it if it were gone. Just do not become so attached that losing it would throw you into turmoil.
Themes and situations
- Gratitude
- Desire and craving
- Acceptance and fate
- Envy and comparison
- Money, status and wanting more
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