32 words to know before reading Meditations

1. Kind and generous in nature or intent.
2. Showing goodwill or a desire to help others.

without being either humbled by them or letting them pass unnoticed. From Sextus,8 a benevolent disposition, and the example of a family governed in a fatherly manner, and the idea of living

1. To choose not to do or have something.
2. To refrain from voting.

And that might be applied to him which is recorded of Socrates,19 that he was able both to abstain from, and to enjoy, those things which many are too weak to abstain from, and cannot enjoy

1. Restored to friendship or harmony after a disagreement.
2. Made consistent or compatible.

a man ought to come pure, tranquil, ready to depart, and without any compulsion perfectly reconciled to his lot.

1. Not turning aside or changing direction; straight.
2. Steady and consistent; unwavering.

most of all the freedom of the governed; I learned from him also consistency and undeviating steadiness in my regard for philosophy; and a disposition to do good, and to give to others

1. A person's inherent qualities of mind and character.
2. The way something is placed or arranged.

through being satisfied with appearances which first present themselves; and that his disposition was to keep his friends, and not to be soon tired of them, nor yet to be extravagant in his

1. Excessive or insincere praise to gain favor.
2. Compliments given to manipulate or please someone.

accommodating himself to all, so that intercourse with him was more agreeable than any flattery; and at the same time he was most highly venerated by those who associated with him: and he had

1. Showing fondness or tenderness.
2. Warm and loving in manner.

to receive anything from another; that I have such a wife,21 so obedient, and so affectionate, and so simple; that I had abundance of good masters for my children; and that remedies have been

1. A request for information or an official investigation.
2. The act of asking questions to gain knowledge or understanding.

ought to have been used, and in the way of answer or giving confirmation, or joining in an inquiry about the thing itself, not about the word, or by some other fit suggestion. From Fronto10 I

1. Annoyed, frustrated, or worried.
2. A problem or issue that is difficult to resolve.

it becomes an abscess and, as it were, a tumour on the universe, so far as it can. For to be vexed at anything which happens is a separation of ourselves from nature, in some part of which the

1. Belonging to you (archaic or poetic form of "your").
2. Short for "thyroid" in medical contexts (informal).

Whatever this is that I am, it is a little flesh and breath, and the ruling part. Throw away thy books; no longer distract thyself: it is not allowed; but as if thou wast now dying, despise the

1. From that place or time; from there.
2. As a result or consequence; therefore.

common political community will anyone say that the whole human race are members? And from thence, from this common political community comes also our very intellectual faculty and reasoning

1. (archaic) You (singular), used as the object of a verb or preposition.
2. (poetic) A form of 'you' in older or religious texts.

and all hypocrisy, and self-love, and discontent with the portion which has been given to thee. Thou seest how few the things are, the which if a man lays hold of, he is able to live a life

1. To become limp or droop, typically due to lack of water.
2. To lose strength, energy, or vigor.

and freedom, and justice; and to give thyself relief from all other thoughts. And thou wilt give thyself relief, if thou doest every act of thy life as if it were the last, laying aside all

1. Used as a reflexive pronoun to refer to a group previously mentioned.
2. Used for emphasis to refer to a group previously mentioned.

of which every living being is compounded. But if there is no harm to the elements themselves in each continually changing into another, why should a man have any apprehension about the

1. A background process in computing that performs tasks without user interaction.
2. A mythological supernatural being or spirit, often malevolent.

able to conduct a man? One thing and only one, philosophy. But this consists in keeping the daemon within a man free from violence and unharmed, superior to pains and pleasures, doing nothing

1. To leave or go away from a place.
2. To deviate from a planned course or topic.

the way which leads to the end of life, to which a man ought to come pure, tranquil, ready to depart, and without any compulsion perfectly reconciled to his lot.

1. Strange or unusual in a way that is surprising or noticeable.
2. Distinctive or unique to a particular person, place, or thing.

fashion contrary to the purpose of the baker’s art, are beautiful in a manner, and in a peculiar way excite a desire for eating. And again, figs, when they are quite ripe, gape open; and in the

1. A state of peace and calmness.
2. Freedom from disturbance or agitation.

which is naturally social requires, and as it requires. For this brings not only the tranquility which comes from doing well, but also that which comes from doing few things. For the greatest

1. Lacking sophistication or good taste; crude.
2. Offensive or indecent in language or behavior.

made by being praised. I affirm this also of the things which are called beautiful by the vulgar, for example, material things and works of art. That which is really beautiful has no need of

1. Officially recommended or ordered, especially as a medical treatment.
2. Set down as a rule or guideline to be followed.

simple and noble fashion. Just as we must understand when it is said, That Æsculapius prescribed to this man horse-exercise, or bathing in cold water or going without shoes; so we must

1. Compliance with standards, rules, or laws.
2. Behavior that matches group norms or expectations.

to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all

1. To construct or build something upright (e.g., a building).
2. Rigid or upright in position (e.g., posture or body part).

external help nor the tranquility which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others. If thou findest in human life anything better than justice, truth, temperance,

1. Used to emphasize a statement or response.
2. Truly or certainly (often expressing agreement).

And I say not what is it to the dead, but what is it to the living? What is praise except indeed so far as it has a certain utility? For thou now rejectest unseasonably the gift of nature,

1. Free time when one is not working or occupied.
2. Activities done for enjoyment during free time.

to check arrogance; thou hast leisure to be superior to pleasure and pain; thou hast leisure to be superior to love of fame, and not to be vexed at stupid and ungrateful people, nay even to

1. An obstacle or barrier that slows or stops progress.
2. A person or thing that causes delay or interference.

the power of acting conditionally and changing: for the mind converts and changes every hindrance to its activity into an aid; and so that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act;

1. Lack of respect or reverence for a god or sacred things.
2. Disregard for religious beliefs or practices.

also be afraid of some of the things which will happen in the world, and even this is impiety. And he who pursues pleasure will not abstain from injustice, and this is plainly impiety. Now

1. To die or be destroyed, especially in a sudden or violent way.
2. To suffer complete ruin or destruction.

shall have been extinguished as it is transmitted through men who foolishly admire and perish. But suppose that those who will remember are even immortal, and that the remembrance will be

1. Devotion to religious duties and practices.
2. Reverence for God or devout fulfillment of obligations.

in every act which was conformable to reason, and his evenness in all things, and his piety, and the serenity of his countenance, and his sweetness, and his disregard of empty fame, and his

1. To wrap or cover something completely.
2. To surround or enclose something.

thou wilt rid thyself of thy much trouble. For he who regards not the poor flesh which envelops him, surely will not trouble himself by looking after raiment and dwelling and fame and suchlike

1. Belonging to thee; your (archaic or poetic form of "yours").
2. Used before a vowel or h in place of "thy" (archaic or poetic form of "your").

to its object. Enter into every man’s ruling faculty; and also let every other man enter into thine.78

1. Willing to comply with orders or requests.
2. Submissive to authority or rules.

Book VI The substance of the universe is obedient and compliant; and the reason which governs it has in itself no cause for doing evil, for it has

1. Put an end to; destroyed or eliminated.
2. Caused a fire or light to stop burning or shining.

it, as fire lays hold of what falls into it, by which a small light would have been extinguished: but when the fire is strong, it soon appropriates to itself the matter which is heaped on it,