On every occasion I must ask myself this question, and inquire, What have I now in this part of me which they call the ruling principle? and whose soul have I now,--that of a child, or of a young man, or of a feeble woman, or of a tyrant, or of a domestic animal, or of a wild beast?
In his personal reflections, Marcus Aurelius outlines a rigorous method of self-examination regarding the nature of his ruling principle.
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One is that things do not touch the soul, for they are external and remain immovable; but our perturbations come only from the opinion which is within.
Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquillity which others give.
With respect to that which happens conformably to nature, we ought to blame neither gods, for they do nothing wrong either voluntarily or involuntarily, nor men, for they do nothing wrong except involuntarily.
Other voices in this conversation
