7 February 2026
In the fourth book, Marcus Aurelius reflects on solitude, the fleeting nature of life, and the balance between good and evil in the world.
1. Solitude helps a person find themselves. Solitude by the sea and in the mountains is good. But even better is the ability to find solitude within oneself.
2. There is not a single reason to complain about anything, for this occupation is unconstructive no matter how you look at it. Everything changes - defeats give way to victories and victories to defeats. Peace of mind does not depend on external things, since they cannot influence it; only you alone have power over it.
3. Death is akin to birth - it is a mystery of nature, which is known for its eternal change. Therefore, there is nothing unnatural or shameful in it, just as in any other manifestation of nature.
4. Time is terribly fleeting. Death comes quickly, and just as quickly oblivion follows it.
5. Do not carry resentment within yourself.
6. Look closely and you will see that in this world everyone receives what they deserve, according to justice. Therefore, one must ensure that one acts as a worthy and just person.
7. One must act justly and not resist changing one’s opinion if doing so makes it more truthful and fair. But one must never change one’s opinion for anything else - for example, for personal gain.
8. If you are capable of thinking rationally, why do you not do so?
9. Trifles that have no significance should be met with indifference.
10. Do not think that you will live a thousand years. Death is near and inevitable. Hurry to become better.
11. Another person’s soul is a dark forest. Therefore, watch yourself, act justly, and follow your own path, disregarding others if you are confident in your way.
12. What is fame to you? It will pass sooner or later anyway. And everything truly beautiful will remain beautiful even without praise.
13. Ask yourself rationally about the necessity of things, and do only what is necessary. Apply the same principle to thoughts - discard excessive thoughts that will not lead to action.
14. Has someone behaved badly? It is they who will suffer for it. Do not trouble yourself over this.
15. Love the work you have been taught and devote yourself to it.
16. Do not set yourself either a master or a slave in life.
17. Do not apply more force than necessary to small matters. Then there will be no frustration or apathy, for you will not have exhausted yourself over trivial things unworthy of effort.
18. Everything lasts only a day - both the one who remembers and the one who is remembered.
19. Misfortune is merely a state in which you find yourself by your own will. And no matter how bad things may be, remember that this can happen to both a good person and a bad one. Therefore, it happens according to nature and is neither evil nor unjust.
20. The world should be perceived as one whole, for everything within it is interconnected.
21. The body is merely a shell that carries the soul. And you are the soul.
22. Eternity is a river of becoming: something appears and immediately disappears in the flow.
23. Nothing is new. Slander, illness, deceit, and death - all are familiar to the wise person, and only fools will be distressed by them again and again.
24. Be happy in your composure. Misfortune may happen to anyone, but not everyone can preserve composure. This happiness outweighs any misfortune that surrounds you.
25. So remember for the future: in everything that brings you sorrow, rely on this principle - not that this is misfortune, but that enduring it courageously is happiness.
26. Life is but a moment between two eternities.
27. The shortest way to accomplish anything is to do everything with reason and conscience. Any trickery or overly clever approach is the longest, most exhausting, and most labor-intensive path.