Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Remember the fable of the country mouse…
Remember the fable of the country mouse and the city mouse, and the great fright and terror that this was put into.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
The country mouse and city mouse are an old reminder that a more glamorous life can carry costs we pretend not to see. The city has abundance, excitement, status—and constant alarm. The country has simplicity, limits, and peace. Marcus is not demanding that everyone leave ambition behind. He is asking us to count the full price. A promotion may mean more money and less sleep. A bigger audience may mean more opportunity and less privacy. The prestigious invitation may require you to become anxious, performative, or unavailable to your family. What looks like a better life from a distance may not suit your temperament or values. Do not envy the feast until you notice the fear beneath the table. Today, identify one thing you are chasing and ask what it will ask of you in return.
Related passages
- Marcus Aurelius All worldly things thou must behold and consider, dividing them into matter, form, and reference, or their proper end.
- Marcus Aurelius Set your mind first on unquestioned goods—wisdom, self-command, justice, courage—and the crowd's claims will lose…
- Marcus Aurelius Strip appearances down: fine food, wine, clothing, and desire become ordinary matter when seen without embellishment.