Philosophy, reputation, and distractions from living well: what is the basis of the good life?

Another encouragement to humility: you can’t claim to have lived your life as a philosopher — not even your whole adulthood. You can see for yourself how far you are from philosophy. And so can many others. You’re mixed up. It’s not so easy now — to have a reputation as a philosopher. And your position is an obstacle as well.

So you know what the problem is. Now forget what they think of you. Be satisfied if you can live the rest of your life, however short, as your nature demands. Focus on that, and don’t let anything distract you. You’ve wandered all over and finally realized that you never found what you were after: how to live. Not by calculations, not in money, or fame, or self-indulgence. None of these. 

— Then where is it to be found?

In bringing forth what human nature requires.

— How?

Through beliefs that should govern your intentions and your actions.

— What beliefs?

Those to do with good and evil. That nothing is good except what leads to fairness, and self-control, and courage, and freedom. And nothing bad except what does the opposite.

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 9

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