Marcus Aurelius: “But cast away the thirst after books, that thou mayest not die…”

On the recordJanuary 1, 175

But cast away the thirst after books, that thou mayest not die murmuring, but cheerfully, truly, and from thy heart thankful to the gods.

Said by

Marcus Aurelius

Source

From his personal reflections, advising against excessive intellectualism in favor of a grateful and cheerful acceptance of death.

More from Marcus Aurelius

Jan 1, 175

But it is inconsistent with honoring reason and God to be troubled because by death a man will be deprived of the other things.

Jan 1, 175

But everything else, whether it is in the power of thy will or not, is only lifeless ashes and smoke.

Jan 1, 175

What remains, except to enjoy life by joining one good thing to another so as not to leave even the smallest intervals between?

Jan 1, 175

But if it is easy to set little value on all these things, turn to that which remains, which is to follow reason and God.

Other voices in this conversation

Marcus Aurelius: “But cast away the thirst after books, that thou mayest not die murmuring, but cheerfully, truly, and from thy heart…”