Marcus Aurelius. Meditations 3.16

Body, soul, intelligence: to the body belong sensations, to the soul appetites, to the intelligence principles.

  

To receive the impressions of forms by means of appearances belongs even to animals.

To be pulled by the strings of desire belongs both to wild beasts and to men who have made themselves into women, and to a Phalaris and a Nero.

And to have the intelligence that guides to the things which appear suitable belongs also to those who do not believe in the gods, and who betray their country, and do their impure deeds when they have shut the doors.

If then everything else is common to all that I have mentioned, there remains that which is peculiar to the good man, to be pleased and content with what happens, and with the thread which is spun for him, and not to defile the divinity which is planted in his breast, nor disturb it by a crowd of images, but to preserve it tranquil, following it obediently as a god, neither saying anything contrary to the truth, nor doing anything contrary to justice.

And if all men refuse to believe that he lives a simple, modest, and contented life, he is neither angry with any of them, nor does he deviate from the way which leads to the end of life, to which a man ought to come pure, tranquil, ready to depart, and without any compulsion perfectly reconciled to his lot.

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 3 (tr Long)

Man shares in the powers of sensing and desiring with the nature of other animals, but it is the addition of the power of reason that is distinct to human nature. Even then, it is not the presence of the intellect alone that makes us good men. I may choose to abuse my understanding in the pursuit of vice, just as I may choose to use my understanding well in the pursuit of virtue.

As a rational animal, it will be my judgment, and not only my instinctive desires, that move my actions. If, however, I judge it to be right and good to be arrogant, to turn on my friends, or to surrender to lust, I have surely judged, but I have not judged according to Nature. The power to think is a gift that can be nurtured or squandered.

When I consider the properties common to any good man, I always return to the fact that he does not demand that the world do anything extraordinary for him, but he is always ready to do extraordinary things himself. He worries far less about his rights, about what is owed to him, and far more about his responsibilities, about what he himself owes to others. He gladly comes to terms with what is beyond his power, and takes a firm hold of what is within his power.

When Marcus Aurelius speaks of being content with the thread that is spun for us, I think immediately of the image of the three Fates, the Moirai, who in turn spin the thread of life, measure its proper length, and then cut it at the right time. This may appear frightening, because it seems to take so much away from us, but it can also be an opportunity, because it can help us to make the most of what is given, whatever circumstances of life Nature provides.

My character will hardly be challenged when all the conditions of life are in accord with my preferences, when I am healthy, rich, or respected. My character is put to the test when what happens to me may be contrary to my desire or expectation. It is then that I can choose to rule myself, instead of trying to rule the world. It is then that I can show respect in the face of disdain, justice in the face of greed, or kindness in the face of anger.

I am not a good man when the Fates are spinning, measuring, and cutting only as I would wish them to. I can be a good man when I am reconciled to whatever outcome they have chosen.

Written in 3/2005

Image: Johann Gottfried Schadow, The Three Moirai, from the grave of Count Alexander von der Mark (1790)