What is my ruling faculty now to me? and of what nature am I now making it? and for what purpose am I now using it? is it void of understanding? is it loosed and rent asunder from social life? is it melted into and mixed with the poor flesh so as to move together with it?
In his personal journal, Marcus poses a series of introspective questions to assess the state and purpose of his guiding intellect.
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What remains, except to enjoy life by joining one good thing to another so as not to leave even the smallest intervals between?
There is one light of the sun, though it is interrupted by walls, mountains, and other things infinite.
But everything else, whether it is in the power of thy will or not, is only lifeless ashes and smoke.
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.
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