London Stoics

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - Book 4: Part 2

17 may 2026 14:50 BST

Bunhill Fields Meeting House, Banner Street, London EC1Y 8QQ, London, GB

• read event description before signing up
• register on Meetup to attend
• update RSVP if plans change
• arrive at 2.50pm
• read the Book before session
• review the Questions

Book 4 - Part 2 - verses 25-51

Reading Time - 16 minutes

Knowledge of prior Books is not required

Gregory Hays translation used in session

Meditations is one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With a profound understanding of human behaviour, Marcus provides insights, wisdom, and practical guidance on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity to interacting with others.

Explore this timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by leaders, readers and thinkers throughout the centuries.

Questions we'll explore

1. A philosopher without clothes and one without books.
“I have nothing to eat,” says he, as he stands there half-naked, “but I subsist on the logos.”
And with nothing to read, I subsist on it too. (30)

What do you make of this?

2. Then what should we work for?
Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech.
A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like
water from that same source and spring. (33)

What are the implications?

3. To pass through this brief life as nature demands.
To give it up without complaint.
Like an olive that ripens and falls.
Praising its mother, thanking the tree it grew on. (48)

How do you feel about this?

4. So remember this principle when something threatens to cause you
pain: the thing itself was no misfortune at all;
to endure it and prevail is great good fortune. (49a)

Do you agree or disagree?

5. Take the shortest route, the one that nature planned—to speak and act in the healthiest way.
Do that, and be free of pain and stress, free of all calculation and pretension. (51)

How would you go about this?

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