Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 6.31 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 6.31
Return to thy sober senses and call thyself back; and when thou hast roused thyself from sleep and hast perceived that they were only dreams which troubled thee, now in thy waking hours look at these [the things about thee] as thou didst look at those [the dreams].
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 6.31, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/6.31
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWhen troubles have a grip on you, wake yourself up and treat them like bad dreams that scared you in your sleep: look at your surroundings with the clear head you have after waking.
Older wording
- “sober senses”
- — a clear-headed, calm mind
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Emotions and the passions
- Peace of mind
- Fear and anxiety
- Anxiety about the future
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