Today, a short section from the Roman emperor’s Meditations.
3.7
Never value anything as profitable to yourself which shall compel you to break your promise, to lose your self-respect, to hate any man, to suspect, to curse, to act the hypocrite, to desire anything which needs walls and curtains: for he who has preferred to everything intelligence and daemon and the worship of its excellence, acts no tragic part, does not groan, will not need either solitude or much company; and, what is chief of all, he will live without either pursuing or flying from death; but whether for a longer or a shorter time he shall have the soul inclosed in the body, he cares not at all: for even if he must depart immediately, he will go as readily as if he were going to do anything else which can be done with decency and order; taking care of this only all through life, that his thoughts turn not away from anything which belongs to an intelligent animal and a member of a civil community.
Notes
Marcus Aurelius encourages himself to stick to his principles and never yield. If he can do that, he can meet any circumstance well – living or dying.
This requires clarity about who you are and what you value.
We are all “intelligent animals” and “members of a civil community.” This means that we should act rationally and prosocially.
What does that mean?
Acting with self-respect. Live not by lies. Hate no one. Live well with others.
In a word – knowing your principles and applying them in action. For the Stoics, these are one and the same thing. Knowledge determines your decisions.
So hold tight to your values. And don’t let yourself lose the rhythm of simply applying them in your daily life again and again.
Do not break when you’re tempted by pain or pleasure. I love Marcus Aurelius’ heuristic here: wanting to hide your actions suggests inconsistency.
Do not forget: you do not have much time. You are already close to death. Sometimes it’s easier to pursue happiness by avoiding its opposite. In that case, Marcus Aurelius gives us a simple list of don’ts.
Don’t break your promises.
Don’t lose your self-respect.
Don’t hate anyone.
Don’t act like a hypocrite.
Don’t desire anything that requires secrecy.
Don’t complain.
Don’t avoid the inevitable.