Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Honour that which is chiefest and most…
Honour that which is chiefest and most powerful in the world, and that is it, which makes use of all things, and governs all things. So also in thyself; honour that which is chiefest, and most powerful; and is of one kind and nature with that which we now spake of. For it is the very same, which being in thee, turneth all other things to its own use, and by whom also thy life is governed.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Honor the part of you that can examine an impulse before obeying it. Your mind can use pain, pleasure, loss, praise, and circumstance as information without becoming their servant. That capacity for reasoned choice is your most valuable possession.
You feel the pull to retaliate, but you can decide not to. You receive praise, but you can enjoy it without becoming addicted to it. You face a setback, but you can ask what it teaches rather than calling yourself ruined. This is not superhuman control; it is the ordinary power of a pause.
Treat that power with respect. Do not hand it over casually to an algorithm, a crowd, a craving, or another person's mood. Build the habit of consulting your principles before you act. Today, when something tries to seize your attention or emotion, ask: What use can I make of this? Let judgment lead, and let circumstances become material for it.
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