Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 10.22 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.22
Either thou livest here and hast already accustomed thyself to it, or thou art going away, and this was thy own will; or thou art dying and hast discharged thy duty. But besides these things there is nothing. Be of good cheer, then.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.22, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/10.22
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWhatever your situation, it falls into one of three cases: you are living here and have grown used to it, you are leaving by your own choice, or you are dying having done your duty. Nothing else is left, so be cheerful.
Older wording
- “discharged”
- — completed or fulfilled
Themes and situations
- Acceptance and fate
- Death and mortality
- Peace of mind