Stoic Weekends

Meditations By Marcus Aurelius

2.17 Human life.

“Duration: momentary. Nature: changeable. Perception: dim. Condition of Body: decaying. Soul: spinning around. Fortune: unpredictable. Lasting Fame: uncertain. Sum Up: The body and its parts are a river, the soul a dream and mist, life is warfare and a journey far from home, lasting reputation is oblivion.”

“Then what can guide us?”

“Only philosophy.”

Take what is given and act in accordance with nature.

Understand that we are here for a short time and have been given all we need to live, be useful, and be happy.

Situations, circumstances, other people, and even our own bodies will seemingly betray us, but it is not betrayal... it simply is.

In nature, what is, IS, as it could be no other way.

Nature is neither good nor evil. It just IS.

We are part of nature, though most of us have forgotten.