But so long as nothing of the kind drives me out, I remain, am free, and no man shall hinder me from doing what I choose; and I choose to do what is according to the nature of the rational and social animal.
Marcus Aurelius, in his personal writings, asserts his commitment to remain free and act in accordance with his rational and social nature unless compelled otherwise.
Share
More from Marcus Aurelius
But it is inconsistent with honoring reason and God to be troubled because by death a man will be deprived of the other things.
Reflecting on all this, consider nothing to be great, except to act as thy nature leads thee, and to endure that which the common nature brings.
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.
The safety of life is this, to examine everything all through, what it is itself, that is its material, what the formal part; with all thy soul to do justice and to say the truth.
Other voices in this conversation
