| 170 | The Meditations (To Himself) |
| 2.1 | p.111 | 3065 | Humans are naturally made for co-operation |
| Full Idea: We are made for cooperation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids, like the rows of upper and lower teeth. To act against one another, then, is contrary to nature. | |||
| From: Marcus Aurelius (The Meditations (To Himself) [c.170], 2.1) |
| 2.17 | p.116 | 3066 | Nothing is evil which is according to nature |
| Full Idea: Nothing is evil which is according to nature. | |||
| From: Marcus Aurelius (The Meditations (To Himself) [c.170], 2.17) | |||
| A reaction: A bit hopeful. Sounds tautological. I.e. anything which is agreed to be evil is probably immediately labelled as 'unnatural'. What would he agree was evil? |
| 3.13 | p.121 | 3067 | A philosopher should have principles ready for understanding, like a surgeon with instruments |
| Full Idea: As physicians have always their instruments and knives ready for cases which suddenly require their skill, so should you have principles ready for the understanding of things divine and human. | |||
| From: Marcus Aurelius (The Meditations (To Himself) [c.170], 3.13) | |||
| A reaction: Nice. Philosophy is the training ground where wisdom and good living are made possible, but it cannot be a substitute for living. |
| 7.61 | p.158 | 3069 | The art of life is more like the wrestler's than the dancer's |
| Full Idea: The art of life is more like the wrestler's than the dancer's. | |||
| From: Marcus Aurelius (The Meditations (To Himself) [c.170], 7.61) |
| 8.39 | p.166 | 3071 | Justice has no virtue opposed to it, but pleasure has temperance opposed to it |
| Full Idea: In the constitution of the rational animal I see no virtue which is opposed to justice; but I see a virtue which is opposed to pleasure, and that is temperance. | |||
| From: Marcus Aurelius (The Meditations (To Himself) [c.170], 8.39) | |||
| A reaction: There are plenty of hideous things opposed to justice, but presumably that immediately disqualifies them from being virtues. |
| 9.19 | p.174 | 3072 | Everything is changing, including yourself and the whole universe |
| Full Idea: All things are changing; and you yourself are in continuous mutation and in a manner in continuous destruction, and the whole universe too. | |||
| From: Marcus Aurelius (The Meditations (To Himself) [c.170], 9.19) |