Marcus Aurelius · Meditations
Meditations, Book XII
13 passages of this book in Stoïque, each with its reference.
Book XII is the last, thirty-six chapters. It opens on what can be had now rather than by a circuitous road, if one takes no notice of the past and trusts the future to providence (XII, 1), and on the three things a man is composed of, a little body, a little breath, intelligence, of which the third alone is properly his (XII, 3). Chapter 4 wonders why every man loves himself more than all the rest, yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others. Chapter 5 asks how the gods could have overlooked the best of men, who once dead never exist again.
The chapters of practice are short: the left hand that holds the bridle more vigorously (Meditations, XII, 6); the pancratiast rather than the gladiator (XII, 9); ‘If it is not right, do not do it: if it is not true, do not say it’ (Meditations, XII, 17); the mariner who has doubled the promontory (Meditations, XII, 22); ‘Cast away opinion: thou art saved’ (Meditations, XII, 25). Chapter 28 answers those who ask where the gods have been seen. The last chapter dismisses the citizen from the great state after five years or three, as a praetor dismisses an actor from the stage, and ends: ‘Depart then satisfied, for he also who releases thee is satisfied’ (Meditations, XII, 36).
Passages of this book in the app
Practise even at the things you despair of accomplishing. The left hand, useless at everything else for want of practice, holds the bridle more firmly than the right, because it has been practised at that.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, XII, 6
after Long, 1862
It is absurd, and the mark of a stranger, to be surprised by anything that happens in life.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, XII, 13
after Long, 1862
If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, XII, 17
after Long, 1862
Consider that everything is opinion, and opinion is in your power. Take away your opinion when you choose, and like a sailor who has rounded the headland you will find calm, all things steady, a waveless bay.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, XII, 22
after Long, 1862
Cast away opinion and you are saved. Who is stopping you from casting it away?
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, XII, 25
after Long, 1862
You have been a citizen of this great city; what does it matter whether for five years or three? What accords with the laws is just for all. Where is the hardship if no tyrant or unjust judge sends you away, but nature, who brought you in — as a praetor dismisses the actor he hired?
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, XII, 36
after Long, 1862
Consider in what condition both in body and soul a man should be when he is overtaken by death; and consider the shortness of life, the boundless abyss of time past and future, the feebleness of all matter.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, XII, 7
after Long, 1862
What a power man has to do nothing except what God will approve, and to accept all that God may give him.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, XII, 11
after Long, 1862
The book in numbers
- Chapters in Long’s 1862 edition
- 36
- Passages of this book in the app
- 13
- Passages of Marcus Aurelius in the app
- 166
- Editions cited on this page
- George Long, 1862
Chapters of this book in the app
Each reference names the book and the chapter, the same way the app prints it under the passage.
Quotes checked against this book
The 13 passages of Book XII and the 153 other passages by Marcus Aurelius are free in Stoïque, each with its reference, on the Home Screen and the Lock Screen.