Marcus Aurelius · Meditations
Meditations, Book VI
13 passages of this book in Stoïque, each with its reference.
Book VI has fifty-nine chapters, many of them a single sentence. The substance of the universe is ‘obedient and compliant’ (VI, 1); ‘Look within’ (VI, 3); ‘The best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrong-doer’ (Meditations, VI, 6); the court and philosophy as step-mother and mother (VI, 12); the Falernian that is only a little grape-juice and the purple robe that is sheep’s wool dyed with the blood of a shell-fish (VI, 13); Alexander the Macedonian and his groom brought to the same state by death (VI, 24).
The one long chapter is the warning ‘Take care that thou art not made into a Caesar’ and the portrait of Antoninus that follows, his constancy, his sparing diet, his tolerance of freedom of speech in those who opposed his opinions, to be imitated so as to have as good a conscience when the last hour comes (VI, 30). Later come Asia and Europe as corners of the universe and Athos as a little clod (VI, 36); the seeker of the truth ‘by which no man was ever injured’ (Meditations, VI, 21); the jaundiced to whom honey tastes bitter (Meditations, VI, 57); and the closing question of whom men wish to please, and for what objects (VI, 59).
Passages of this book in the app
The finest way of avenging yourself is not to become like the one who wronged you.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, VI, 6
after Long, 1862
If anyone can convince me and show me that I am not thinking or acting rightly, I will gladly change. I look for the truth, which never injured a soul; the one injured is the one who stays in his error and ignorance.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, VI, 21
after Long, 1862
We are free to hold no opinion about a thing, and to keep our soul undisturbed; things by themselves have no natural power to shape our judgments.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, VI, 52
after Long, 1862
How many who entered the world with me have already left it.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, VI, 56
after Long, 1862
To the jaundiced, honey tastes bitter; to those bitten by mad dogs, water is frightening; to small children, a ball is a splendid thing. Why then be angry? Do you think a false opinion has less force than bile in the jaundiced, or venom in the man a mad dog has bitten?
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, VI, 57
after Long, 1862
If a thing is difficult to be accomplished by thyself, do not think that it is impossible for man: but if anything is possible for man and conformable to his nature, think that this can be attained by thyself too.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, VI, 19
after Long, 1862
I do my duty: other things trouble me not; for they are either things without life, or things without reason, or things that have rambled and know not the way.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, VI, 22
after Long, 1862
It is a shame for the soul to be first to give way in this life, when thy body does not give way.
— MARCUS AURELIUS · MEDITATIONS, VI, 29
after Long, 1862
The book in numbers
- Chapters in Long’s 1862 edition
- 59
- 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 VI and the 153 other passages by Marcus Aurelius are free in Stoïque, each with its reference, on the Home Screen and the Lock Screen.