Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: That soul which is ever ready, even now…
That soul which is ever ready, even now presently (if need be) from the body, whether by way of extinction, or dispersion, or continuation in another place and estate to be separated, how blessed and happy is it!
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
The goal is not to obsess over death. It is to become so clear about how you are living that death loses its power to terrify you. A person ready to leave at any moment is not careless or gloomy. They are less likely to postpone the apology, waste the afternoon in resentment, or betray their principles for a little comfort. We fear departure most when we suspect we have not really arrived in our own lives. Marcus reminds us that the body will eventually change, disperse, or end; that is nature's business. Our business is to keep the inner life in order while we have it. Ask yourself today: if this were a smaller chapter than I assumed, would I be proud of how I am spending it? Then make one adjustment while you still can.
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 Remember the fable of the country mouse and the city mouse, and the great fright and terror that this was put into.
- Marcus Aurelius Set your mind first on unquestioned goods—wisdom, self-command, justice, courage—and the crowd's claims will lose…