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Meditations · Book VII · 61Meditations

Book VII · 61

The art of life is more like the wrestler's art than the dancer's, in respect of this, that it should stand ready and firm to meet onsets which are sudden and unexpected.

The business of life is more akin to wrestling than dancing, for it requires of us to stand ready and unshakable against every assault however unforeseen.

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations VII.61. Translated by George Long (1862). The Stoic Library.