Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 4.6 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.6
It is natural that these things should be done by such persons, it is a matter of necessity; and if a man will not have it so, he will not allow the fig-tree to have juice. But by all means bear this in mind, that within a very short time both thou and he will be dead; and soon not even your names will be left behind.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.6, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/4.6
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIt is in people's nature to behave as they do, and demanding otherwise is like expecting a fig tree to have no juice. Remember that you and the person annoying you will both be dead soon, and even your names will be forgotten.
Themes and situations
- Anger
- Acceptance and fate
- Death and mortality
- Nature and the cosmos
- Being angry with someone
- A difficult boss
- Everyday irritations
- Conflict at work
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