Marcus Aurelius. Alone (№ 461931)

Never consider it useful for yourself that it will ever prompt you to break a promise, forget shame, hate someone, suspect, curse, be a hypocrite, or desire something that is hidden behind walls and castles. After all, the one who has given preference to his reason, his genius and the service of his virtue does not put on a tragic mask, does not utter lamentations, does not need either solitude or crowds. He will live - and this is the most important thing - without pursuing anything and without avoiding anything. He is not at all worried about whether his soul will remain in a bodily shell for more or less time, and when the moment of parting with life comes, he will leave with the same light heart with which he would carry out something else from what he was doing. what can be done with dignity and honor. After all, all his life he only thinks about not allowing his soul to descend to a state unworthy of a rational being called to citizenship.