Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 10.14 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.14
To her who gives and takes back all, to nature, the man who is instructed and modest says, Give what thou wilt; take back what thou wilt. And he says this not proudly, but obediently and well pleased with her.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.14, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/10.14
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA wise and humble person tells nature that she may give or take back whatever she likes, and says it with cheerful obedience, not pride or resentment. Everything you have is on loan, and you can let it go gracefully.
Older wording
- “instructed”
- — trained in philosophy, wise
Themes and situations
- Acceptance and fate
- Gratitude
- Pride and humility
- Death and mortality
- Bereavement
- Losing money
- Losing a job
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