Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 8.32 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 8.32
It is thy duty to order thy life well in every single act; and if every act does its duty, as far as is possible, be content; and no one is able to hinder thee so that each act shall not do its duty.—But something external will stand in the way.—Nothing will stand in the way of thy acting justly and soberly and considerately.—But perhaps some other active power will be hindered.—Well, but by acquiescing in the hindrance and by being content to transfer thy efforts to that which is allowed, another opportunity of action is immediately put before thee in place of that which was hindered, and one which will adapt itself to this ordering of which we are speaking.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 8.32, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/8.32
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesDo each action as well as you can, and no one can stop you from doing that. If outside circumstances block a particular plan, you can still act justly, sensibly and thoughtfully, and by accepting the block and redirecting your effort to what is allowed, a new opportunity appears in place of the one lost.
Older wording
- “acquiescing”
- — accepting without resistance
- “soberly”
- — with self-control and good sense
Themes and situations
- What is in our control
- Adversity and hardship
- Resilience and endurance
- Duty and roles
- A career setback
- Losing a job
- A business failing
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