Epithets for yourself: Upright. Modest. Straightforward. Sane. Cooperative. Disinterested.
Try not to exchange them for others.
And if you should forfeit them, set about getting them back.
Keep in mind that “sanity” means understanding things—each individual thing—for what they are. And not losing the thread.
And “cooperation” means accepting what nature assigns you—accepting it willingly.
And “disinterest” means that the intelligence should rise above the movements of the flesh—the rough and the smooth alike. Should rise above fame, above death, and everything like them.
If you maintain your claim to these epithets—without caring if others apply them to you or not—you’ll become a new person, living a new life. To keep on being the person that you’ve been—to keep being mauled and degraded by the life you’re living—is to be devoid of sense and much too fond of life. Like those animal fighters at the games—torn half to pieces, covered in blood and gore, and still pleading to be held over till tomorrow … to be bitten and clawed again.
Set sail, then, with this handful of epithets to guide you. And steer a steady course, if you can. Like an emigrant to the islands of the blest. And if you feel yourself adrift—as if you’ve lost control—then hope for the best, and put in somewhere where you can regain it. Or leave life altogether, not in anger, but matter-of-factly, straightforwardly, without arrogance, in the knowledge that you’ve at least done that much with your life.
And as you try to keep these epithets in mind, it will help you a great deal to keep the gods in mind as well. What they want is not flattery, but for rational things to be like them. For figs to do what figs were meant to do—and dogs, and bees … and people.
Meditations 10.8
Today’s meditation
The underlying Stoic issue in this passage is the importance of living in accordance with virtue and reason. In Meditations 10.8, Marcus Aurelius provides a set of epithets for oneself, including "Upright," "Modest," "Straightforward," "Sane," "Cooperative," and "Disinterested." These qualities are essential for living a good life, and the passage offers guidance on how to cultivate them.
The passage reveals that living well requires embracing certain qualities, such as "sanity," which means "understanding things—each individual thing—for what they are" (Meditations 10.8). This involves having a clear and rational understanding of the world, without being swayed by emotions or external events. Additionally, "cooperation" means accepting what nature assigns to us, willingly. This acceptance is key to living in harmony with the natural order.
To apply this insight today, one might reflect on their own values and actions. Are you living in accordance with the epithets mentioned in the passage? Are there areas where you can improve your sanity, cooperation, or disinterest? For example, you might ask yourself: What are the things that I can control, and how can I focus on those things, rather than getting caught up in external events or emotions? By focusing on what you can control and living in accordance with reason and virtue, you can cultivate a sense of inner strength and resilience.
As the passage advises, "Set sail, then, with this handful of epithets to guide you" (Meditations 10.8). This means using these qualities as a guiding principle for your actions and decisions. By doing so, you can live a more intentional and meaningful life, one that is guided by reason and virtue. What is one thing you can do today to embody one of these epithets, and how will you hold yourself to that standard?