Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 10.2 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.2
Observe what thy nature requires, so far as thou art governed by nature only: then do it and accept it, if thy nature, so far as thou art a living being, shall not be made worse by it. And next thou must observe what thy nature requires so far as thou art a living being. And all this thou mayest allow thyself, if thy nature, so far as thou art a rational animal, shall not be made worse by it. But the rational animal is consequently also a political [social] animal. Use these rules, then, and trouble thyself about nothing else.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.2, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/10.2
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWork out what your nature calls for, first as an animal with bodily needs and then as a reasoning being, and allow yourself what you need so long as it does not damage your nature at either level. Since a reasoning animal is also a social one, keep to these rules and do not trouble yourself about anything else.
Older wording
- “political [social] animal”
- — a being made to live in community with others
Themes and situations
- Self-discipline and habit
- Nature and the cosmos
- Community and our duty to others
- Virtue and character
- Breaking a bad habit
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