Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: 'As often as a father kisseth his…
'As often as a father kisseth his child, he should say secretly with himself' (said Epictetus,) 'tomorrow perchance shall he die.' But these words be ominous.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Love is made more tender, not less, by knowing it is temporary. Epictetus's reminder about a child can sound harsh if heard as a command to be detached. It is better understood as an invitation to stop taking people for granted. Nothing is promised: not the next ordinary breakfast, school pickup, phone call, or kiss goodnight. This fact should not make us anxious and possessive. It should make us present. We become careless with what we assume will always be there. Marcus asks us to remember fragility so we can love without postponement. Put down the phone when someone is speaking. Say what needs saying. Do not reserve your affection for an imagined future when life calms down. Today, give a person you love your undivided attention for a few minutes. That is how mortality becomes gratitude instead of dread.
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