Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: That then which is longest of duration,…
That then which is longest of duration, and that which is shortest, come both to one effect. For although in regard of that which is already past there may be some inequality, yet that time which is now present and in being, is equal unto all men.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
A long life and a short life are equal in one crucial respect: neither person owns anything except the present moment. The past is gone for both, and the future is not yet in either person's hands. This is not an argument against planning or wishing for more time. It is an argument against postponing life until you feel guaranteed a larger supply of it. You may have decades ahead; you may not. But the only place courage, kindness, attention, and honesty can happen is today. A person who wastes every afternoon waiting for a better season does not become richer because they live longer. Use the hour you have instead of fantasizing about the years you cannot see. Today, treat one ordinary moment as if it matters: listen fully during a conversation, finish a task without checking your phone, or go outside and notice the day. Presence is the part of life actually available.
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