For animate beings, “harmful” is whatever obstructs the operation of their senses—or the fulfillment of what they intend. Similar obstructions constitute harm to plants. So too for rational creatures, anything that obstructs the operation of the mind is harmful.
Apply this to yourself.
Do pain and pleasure have their hooks in you? Let the senses deal with it. Are there obstacles to your action? If you failed to reckon with the possibility, then that would harm you, as a rational being. But if you use common sense, you haven’t been harmed or even obstructed. No one can obstruct the operations of the mind. Nothing can get at them—not fire or steel, not tyrants, not abuse—nothing. As long as it’s “a sphere … in perfect stillness.”
Meditations 8.41
Today’s meditation
The underlying Stoic issue here is the distinction between what is within our control and what is not, particularly in relation to external events and our own desires and aversions. In Meditations 8.41, Marcus Aurelius notes that for rational creatures, "anything that obstructs the operation of the mind is harmful." This reveals a key insight into how to live well: our focus should be on maintaining the clarity and freedom of our minds, rather than being controlled by external events or our own reactions to them.
As Marcus Aurelius advises, "Do pain and pleasure have their hooks in you? Let the senses deal with it." This suggests that we should not let our desires and aversions dictate our actions, but rather observe them as mere sensations. By doing so, we can prevent them from obstructing the operation of our minds. If we encounter obstacles to our actions, we should use "common sense" to navigate them, rather than becoming frustrated or deterred.
To apply this insight today, one might ask themselves: What are the things that currently have their "hooks" in me? Am I letting pain, pleasure, or other external events control my thoughts and actions? By recognizing these potential obstructions, we can take steps to maintain our mental clarity and freedom. As Marcus Aurelius notes, "No one can obstruct the operations of the mind. Nothing can get at them—not fire or steel, not tyrants, not abuse—nothing." This is a powerful reminder of the resilience and autonomy of our minds, and the importance of cultivating inner strength and wisdom in order to live well.
What is one thing that you feel is currently obstructing the operation of your mind, and how might you use "common sense" to navigate it today?