Marcus Aurelius wrote, "Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one."
Many people familiar with Marcus Aurelius aren't aware that his writings were private journals, only discovered after his death in 180 A.D.
His statement above takes on a new, deeper meaning seen through this lens. He was instructing himself, not others.
He wasn't talking about arguing with other people about what a good man should be. Instead, he was referring to the arguments he had with himself.
He realized that any internal debate over what was good or whether to do it was wasted time—debating himself only delayed and distracted him from doing what was good.
- How often do you internally debate over what is good and right to do? Why do you debate?
- How often do you know what is good and right to do but hesitate to do it? Why do you hesitate?
Debating yourself is more than a waste of time. It is a resistance to doing good things. Why would you resist what you know to be right?
Put an end to that. Eliminate your resistance. Stop wasting time. Act on what you know to be good and right without hesitation.
The time is now. Do the work.
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