The Meditations (Stoic Philosophy #2)

by Marcus Aurelius

Why call this event unfortunate? From another perspective, it may be considered lucky. The only true misfortune is when a person leaves the path of wisdom, ignores reason, and violates the laws of nature.

The obstacle is the way.

When you come upon a stumbling block, use it as a stepping stone. * * *

this is the way.

In the stream of life, nothing stands still. How quickly things arise, pass by, and disappear. How foolish it is, then, to puff yourself up with pride or berate yourself with worry.

Look past appearances to the core of things. At a lavish banquet, pause and think: “This is the dead body of a fish; this is the dead body of a pig; this fine wine is only fermented grape juice; my purple robe is sheep’s wool stained with the blood of a shellfish,” and so on.

Existentialist philosophers and absurdists many years later would note the same idea. Jean Sartre comes to mind.