MEDITATIONS, BOOK - II THOUGHT - 5
Paragraph: Every moment think steadily as a Roman and a man to do what thou hast in hand with perfect and simple dignity, and feeling of affection, and freedom, and justice; and to give thyself relief from all other thoughts. And thou wilt give thyself relief, if thou doest every act of thy life as if it were the last, laying aside all carelessness and passionate aversion from the commands of reason, and all hypocrisy, and self-love, and discontent with the portion which has been given to thee. Thou seest how few the things are, the which if a man lays hold of, he is able to live a life which flows in quiet, and is like the existence of the gods; for the gods on their part will require nothing more from him who observes these things.
INTERPRETATION
“Every moment think steadily as a Roman and a man...”
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Roman here symbolizes duty, discipline, courage, and service to society.
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A man refers to being a rational, virtuous, and principled human being.
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Marcus is urging you to stay mentally disciplined and conscious of your identity — not just as any person, but as someone with a noble standard to live up to.
“...to do what thou hast in hand with perfect and simple dignity, and feeling of affection, and freedom, and justice...”
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Whatever task you are doing — no matter how big or small — do it with:
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Dignity: Self-respect and grace.
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Affection: Goodwill, kindness, compassion.
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Freedom: Inner freedom from external control or emotional slavery.
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Justice: Fairness, doing what's morally right.
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💡 The idea is to act nobly, kindly, freely, and fairly in everything.
“...and to give thyself relief from all other thoughts.”
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Don’t let your mind be cluttered. Let go of distractions, worries, and unnecessary overthinking.
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Stay present, focused, and grounded in what you're doing now.
“And thou wilt give thyself relief, if thou doest every act of thy life as if it were the last...”
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Imagine each act — every conversation, every work task, every decision — is the final one of your life.
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This creates urgency, purpose, and sincerity. No time for laziness, lies, ego, or resentment.
“...laying aside all carelessness and passionate aversion from the commands of reason...”
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Avoid being careless or emotionally resistant to reason and truth.
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Stop letting impulses or moods drive your actions; instead, follow logic, wisdom, and principle.
“...and all hypocrisy, and self-love, and discontent with the portion which has been given to thee.”
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Let go of:
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Hypocrisy: Being fake or wearing a mask.
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Self-love (in excess): Narcissism or putting yourself above others.
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Discontent: Complaining about your fate, role, or situation in life.
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He’s saying: Accept your life, your challenges, your limits — and live them well.
“Thou seest how few the things are, the which if a man lays hold of...”
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It doesn’t take many things to live a good life. Just a few simple principles — and they are within your control.
“...he is able to live a life which flows in quiet, and is like the existence of the gods...”
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If you live by these principles, your life becomes peaceful, calm, and divinely aligned — like the gods, who are serene and ask for nothing.
“...for the gods on their part will require nothing more from him who observes these things.”
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If you live this way, you are already living at the highest level a human can, and even the gods wouldn’t expect more from you.
🌟 Deep Interpretation in Simple Words:
Marcus is saying:
At every moment, remember who you are — a person of duty, character, and principle. Whatever you're doing right now, do it with full presence, respect, kindness, fairness, and freedom from fear or ego. Clear your mind of useless thoughts. Live each action as if it were your last — with seriousness, love, and clarity. Don’t let laziness, emotion, fake behavior, pride, or dissatisfaction poison you. Life doesn't ask for much — just a few core values. If you hold on to those, your life will be peaceful, powerful, and godlike. Even the universe cannot demand more from such a soul.
🧠How You Can Use This in Daily Life:
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Be Present — Focus on the moment, not past or future.
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Act With Purpose — Treat small actions as if they define your legacy.
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Stay Real — No fakeness, no ego, no self-pity.
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Follow Reason Over Emotion — Let truth and values guide you.
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Accept Your Fate — Love your current life and work with it.
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