Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Give what thou wilt, and take away what…
Give what thou wilt, and take away what thou wilt, saith he that is well taught and truly modest, to Him that gives, and takes away. And it is not out of a stout and peremptory resolution, that he saith it, but in mere love, and humble submission.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
We are often willing to accept change only when we are the ones choosing it. A plan falls through, a role ends, money tightens, someone we love leaves—and suddenly we feel personally singled out. Marcus imagines a more resilient posture: receive life’s gifts gratefully and surrender its withdrawals without turning either into a melodrama. This is not numb resignation. It is love without ownership. You can enjoy your health, your friendships, your home, and your opportunities while remembering they are loans, not guarantees. That memory makes appreciation more vivid, not less. When circumstances change, humility says: I did not create the whole order of things, but I can choose my response inside it. Today, name one good thing you have been treating as automatic. Appreciate it fully, and loosen your grip enough to meet change with dignity.
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