Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Be it so: yet there be many other good…
Be it so: yet there be many other good things, for the want of which thou canst not plead the want or natural ability. Let them be seen in thee, which depend wholly from thee; sincerity, gravity, laboriousness, contempt of pleasures; be not querulous, be Content with little, be kind, be free; avoid all superfluity, all vain prattling; be magnanimous.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
You may lack talent, money, health, influence, or the exact opportunities you wanted. But many essential qualities remain available: sincerity, steady effort, modesty, restraint, kindness, and the ability to need less. Do not use one limitation as an excuse to neglect everything that is still yours to develop.
You cannot control whether people find you brilliant. You can be prepared. You cannot always control your circumstances. You can avoid complaining as your main personality. You cannot buy every comfort. You can keep your word and treat people well.
These are not glamorous achievements, which is why they are easy to undervalue. Yet they make someone trustworthy, resilient, and free. Review your day by this standard, not by what you were denied. Where can you be more honest, less wasteful, more diligent, or more generous? Start there. Character does not wait for ideal conditions.
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