Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Let not that chief commanding part of…
Let not that chief commanding part of thy soul be ever subject to any variation through any corporal either pain or pleasure, neither suffer it to be mixed with these, but let it both circumscribe itself, and confine those affections to their own proper parts and members.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Pain and pleasure speak loudly, but they do not have to govern the whole person. A headache, an insult, a craving, or a burst of excitement can be felt fully without being allowed to rewrite your values or make your decisions.
When your body hurts, attend to it: rest, seek care, adjust your plans. When pleasure arrives, enjoy it without chasing it past the point of wisdom. The Stoic mistake would be to deny sensation. The Stoic practice is to keep sensation in its proper place. Your body sends signals; it is not the chief executive of your life.
This is most visible in the pause between feeling and action. You feel anger but wait before replying. You want another drink but recognize that you have had enough. Today, let your rational judgment remain distinct from the noise of the moment. Feel what you feel. Then choose what you do.
Related passages
- Marcus Aurelius It is not by way of any suspicious indignation, but by way of gentle and friendly declination. Keep the same mind and…
- Marcus Aurelius Every soul lacks truth unwillingly; the same is true of justice, moderation, and goodwill. Keep this in mind, and you…
- Marcus Aurelius If someone scorns me, that is their concern. Mine is to do and say nothing shameful. If someone hates me, I will…