Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Be it all one unto thee, whether half…
Be it all one unto thee, whether half frozen or well warm; whether only slumbering, or after a full sleep; whether discommended or commended thou do thy duty: or whether dying or doing somewhat else; for that also 'to die,' must among the rest be reckoned as one of the duties and actions of our lives.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Your conditions are not your assignment. Being tired, cold, praised, ignored, comfortable, or near the end of life does not change the basic work: do what is right. We spend enormous energy waiting to feel ideal before we act well. We want more sleep before we become patient parents, more recognition before we do good work, more confidence before we speak honestly. But character is practiced under ordinary, imperfect conditions. Marcus includes death here because even dying is part of nature, not an exemption from courage or dignity. You do not need to dramatize discomfort, nor pretend it feels good. Just do not give it authority over your conduct. When the meeting goes badly or the day begins badly, return to the small duty in front of you. Make the call. Keep the promise. Be civil. Your mood can be unsettled while your actions remain steady.
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