Meditations — Marcus Aurelius
p. 144For look to the immensity of time behind thee, and to the time which is before thee, another boundless space. In this infinity then what is the difference between him who lives three days and him who lives three generations?1 51. Always run to the short way ; and the short way is the natural : accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason.
For such a purpose frees a man from trouble,! and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display. 1 An allusion to Homer's Nestor, who was living at the war of Troy among the third generation, like old Parr with his hundred and fifty -two years, and some others in modern times who have beaten Parr by twenty or thirty years if it is true ; and yet they died at last. The word is rpiyeprjvlov in Antoninus. Nestor is named rpcytpuv by some writers ; but here perhaps there is an allusion to Homer's Ttpfyios Iv-Trdra NArrwp.
V. 1. In the morning when thou risest unwillingly, let this thought be present, — I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world ? Or have I been made for this, to lie in the bedclothes and keep myself warm ? — But this is more pleasant. — Dost thou exist then to take thy pleasure, and not at all for action or exertion?
Dost thou not see the little plants, the little birds, the ants, the spiders, the bees working together to put in order their several parts of the universe ? And art thou unwilling to do the work of a human being, and dost thou not make haste to do that which is according to thy nature? — But it is necessary to take rest also. — It is necessary.
However, Nature has fixed bounds to this too : she has fixed bounds to eating and drinking, and yet thou goest beyond these bounds, beyond what is sufficient; yet in thy acts it is not so, but thou stoppest short of what tb^u canst do. So thou p. 146lovest not thyself, for if thou didst, thou wouldst love thy nature and her will. But those who love their several arts exhaust themselves in working at them unwashed and without food; but thou valuest thy own nature less than the turner values the turning art, or the dancer the dancing art, or the lover of money values his money, or the vainglorious man his little glory.
And such men, when they have a violent affection to a thing, choose neither to eat nor to sleep rather than to perfect the things which they care for. But are the acts which concern society more vile in thy eyes and less worthy of thy labor? 2. How easy it is to repel and to wipe away every impression which is troublesome or unsuitable, and immediately to be in all tranquillity. 3.
Judge every word and deed which are according to nature to be fit for thee ; and be not diverted by the blame which follows from any people nor by their words, but if a thing is good to be done or said, do not consider it unworthy of thee.
For those persons have their peculiar leading principle and follow their peculiar movement; which things do not thou regard, but go straight on, following thy own nature and the common nature ; and the way of both is one. 4. I go through the things which happen according to nature until I shall fall and rest, breathing out my breath into that element out of which I
144 MEDITATIONS. For look to the immensity of time behind you, and to the time which is before you, another boundless space. In this infinity then what is the difference between him who lives three days and him who lives three generations?1 51. Always run to the short way ; and the short way is the natural : accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble,! and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display. 1 An allusion to Homer's Nestor, who was living at the war of Troy among the third generation, like old Parr with his hundred and fifty -two years, and some others in modern times who have beaten Parr by twenty or thirty years if it is true ; and yet they died at last. The word is rpiyeprjvlov in Antoninus. Nestor is named rpcytpuv by some writers ; but here perhaps there is an allusion to Homer's Ttpfyios Iv-Trdra NArrwp.
V. 1. In the morning when you risest unwillingly, let this thought be present, — I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world ? Or have I been made for this, to lie in the bedclothes and keep myself warm ? — But this is more pleasant. — Dost you exist then to take your pleasure, and not at all for action or exertion? Dost you not see the little plants, the little birds, the ants, the spiders, the bees working together to put in order their several parts of the universe ? And art you unwilling to do the work of a human being, and do you not make haste to do that which is according to your nature? — But it is necessary to take rest also. — It is necessary. However, Nature has fixed bounds to this too : she has fixed bounds to eating and drinking, and yet you go beyond these bounds, beyond what is sufficient; yet in your acts it is not so, but you stoppest short of what tb^u can do. So you 146 MEDITATIONS. lovest not yourself, for if you did, you would love your nature and her will. But those who love their several arts exhaust themselves in working at them unwashed and without food; but you valuest your own nature less than the turner values the turning art, or the dancer the dancing art, or the lover of money values his money, or the vainglorious man his little glory. And such men, when they have a violent affection to a thing, choose neither to eat nor to sleep rather than to perfect the things which they care for. But are the acts which concern society more vile in your eyes and less worthy of your labor? 2. How easy it is to repel and to wipe away every impression which is troublesome or unsuitable, and immediately to be in all tranquillity. 3. Judge every word and deed which are according to nature to be fit for you ; and be not diverted by the blame which follows from any people nor by their words, but if a thing is good to be done or said, do not consider it unworthy of you. For those persons have their peculiar leading principle and follow their peculiar movement; which things do not you regard, but go straight on, following your own nature and the common nature ; and the way of both is one. 4. I go through the things which happen according to nature until I shall fall and rest, breathing out my breath into that element out of which I
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