Love the art, poor as it may be, which thou hast learned, and be content with it; and pass through the rest of life like one who has intrusted to the gods with his whole soul all that he has, making thyself neither the tyrant nor the slave of any man.
Marcus Aurelius advises contentment with one's chosen profession and a life lived with trust in divine providence, free from domination or subservience.
Share
More from Marcus Aurelius
Further, he was not fond of change nor unsteady, but he loved to stay in the same places, and to employ himself about the same things; and after his paroxysms of headache he came immediately fresh and vigorous to his usual occupations.
But if there is a providence which allows itself to be propitiated, make thyself worthy of the help of the divinity.
The third, then, is the ruling part; consider thus: Thou art an old man; no longer let this be a slave, no longer be pulled by the strings like a puppet to unsocial movements, no longer be either dissatisfied with thy present lot, or…
Other voices in this conversation
