Worthlessness of pursuits

1 passages · search this phrase →

Often appears with: return to core principles · prudence and practical wisdom · instability of assent · impermanence · fate, destiny, and necessity · doubt, skepticism, and certainty

Usually: argument (1) · sudden reversal of fortune (1) · detachment (1) · skepticism (1)

Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius primary

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus · composed during the reign and campaigns of Marcus Aurelius; tradition places major composition in the 2nd century CE
Section. I have also added a “1.” before the first “thought” in each > BOOK V. (9/9)

The author argues that assent is unstable and the world’s things are transient and degraded, so serious pursuits are misguided; instead one should wait for dissolution and stay anchored to what aligns with the universe.

badness, nor an effect of my own badness, and the common weal is not injured, why am I troubled about it, and what is the harm to the common weal? 36. Do not be carried along inconsiderately by the appearance of things, but give help [to all] according to thy ability and their fitness; and if they should have sustained loss in matters which are indifferent, do not imagine this to be a damage; for it is a bad habit. …