Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Take me and throw me where thou wilt: I…
Take me and throw me where thou wilt: I am indifferent. For there also I shall have that spirit which is within me propitious; that is well pleased and fully contented both in that constant disposition, and with those particular actions, which to its own proper constitution are suitable and agreeable.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
We spend enormous energy trying to arrange conditions so that we can finally feel okay: the right city, role, relationship, income, schedule. Marcus argues that contentment has to be portable. You may be moved, reassigned, delayed, or disappointed, yet still retain the ability to act with steadiness and self-respect. This is not a demand to stay in bad circumstances or ignore injustice. Change what you reasonably can. But do not postpone your character until the conditions are ideal. The inner disposition you practice in a calm room is the one you need in an airport, a hospital, a difficult job, or an unfamiliar place. Wherever you are placed today, you can still be honest, useful, patient, and disciplined. Bring your principles with you. They are the only home external events cannot take away.
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