Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Not in syllogisms, and logical…
Not in syllogisms, and logical subtilties, not in wealth, not in honour and reputation, not in pleasure. In none of all these. Wherein then is it to be found? In the practice of those things, which the nature of man, as he is a man, doth require.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
A successful life is not found in clever arguments, money, reputation, or pleasure alone. All of those can be useful, enjoyable, and worth pursuing in their proper place. None can tell you whether you are living well. Marcus locates that answer in the work human beings are especially capable of: using reason, acting justly, cooperating with others, and meeting difficulty with courage. This is good news because it makes the central task portable. You can practice it with a large salary or a small one, in a prestigious role or an unnoticed one. The world may reward status, but status cannot substitute for character. When you feel pressure to prove that you matter, come back to basics. Did you act fairly? Did you tell the truth? Did you use your abilities for something beyond yourself? Today, let those questions define success more than the numbers, titles, or praise attached to your name.
Related passages
- Seneca Which will he go to meet first? which part of the universal conspiracy will he first oppose? His victory will drag him…
- Marcus Aurelius Doth either the sun take upon him to do that which belongs to the rain? or his son Aesculapius that, which unto the…
- Marcus Aurelius My city and country as I am Antoninus, is Rome; as a man, the whole world. Those things therefore that are expedient…