[One Thousand Characters a Day] Aurelius' "Meditations" <2>

Editor's NoteAsia Economy provides daily 1,000-character transcription content for the 'One Day Ten Thousand Steps' newsletter readers. The transcription content is carefully selected according to themes on a daily and monthly basis from Eastern and Western classics, Korean literature, famous columns, and notable speeches. Today is the second session of philosopher Marcus Aurelius' Meditations. Character count: 961.

Focus on the reason that governs yourself, the reason that governs all things, and the reason that governs people. Focusing on the reason that governs yourself is to make it a proper intellect; focusing on the reason that governs all things is to remember that you are a part of it; focusing on the reason that governs people is to know whether it is foolish or wise, and at the same time to see if it is of the same kind as yours.

Act as if you yourself are a supplement to the social organization, and as if all your actions are supplements to social life. Any action of yours that does not mention the purpose of society, whether near or far, breaks your life and prevents unity. It is like acting alone in opposition when the whole assembly agrees; there is a rebellious nature in that.

The play of children’s fights and souls bearing corpses, ultimately expressing the form of the dead, vividly comes to our eyes.

To approach the formal nature of things, separate and examine them from their matter. Then observe how long each form has been granted to endure.

The countless hardships you have endured are because the reason governing you was not satisfied with acting according to a fixed pattern. That will suffice for now.

Whenever others blame or hate you and express such feelings, approach them and enter their hearts to see what kind of people they are. You will see that no matter what they think of you, they cannot harm you. However, since they are originally friends, you must be kind to them. Even the gods grant through oracles of dreams what they deem worthy.

The world always repeats consistently from top to bottom, from generation to generation. If the cosmic reason governs every individual event through a specific impulse (emanation), accept the result.

- Aurelius, Meditations, translated by Kim Dong-hoon, Minumsa, 13,000 KRW