Do wrong to yourself, do wrong to yourself, my soul

Commentary on Meditations 2.6

The central project of Stoicism is self-transformation.

Marcus Aurelius encourages himself to do better, to be better.

He has been given enough time to live well – we all have – and urges himself to take advantage of that.

Again and again, he reminds himself to not be distracted. Here, he tells himself to avoid the central distraction of humanity: caring too much about what is happening in other people's heads.

2.6

Do wrong to yourself, do wrong to yourself, my soul; but you will no longer have the opportunity of honoring yourself. Every man’s life is sufficient.

But yours is nearly finished, though your soul reveres not itself but places your happiness in the souls of others.

Notes on 2.6