“The person who follows reason in all things will have both leisure and a readiness to act — they are at once both cheerful and self-composed.”
MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 10.12b
We close out the month of November in the book The Daily Stoic with a quote about reason. Marcus Aurelius states that if you follow reason in all things, it will give you peace and happiness, but it will also ensure that you are poised and ready to spring into action when the moment demands it.
Using your natural reason means that you’ll be calm instead of upset about someone else’s stinky armpits. You’ll be alert and aware, but at the same time you’ll be chillaxed like a Roman because you won’t be stressing about things outside of your sphere of influence.
Remember that your reason is a very important and powerful tool at your disposal — it essentially gives you an impenetrable fortress to retreat to when the world gets crazy.
In truth, you can really use reason to end your troubles — by letting it do the work it was intended for. And that will help you remain calm, but ready.
