“One man prays thus: How shall I be able to lie with that woman? Do thou pray thus: How shall I not desire to lie with her? Another prays: How shall I be released from this? Another prays: How shall I not desire to be released? Another thus: How shall I not lose my little son? Thou thus: How shall I not be afraid to lose him? In fine, turn thy prayers this way, and see what comes.”

—  Marcus Aurelius, book Meditations

IX, 40
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IX

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Marcus Aurelius400
Emperor of Ancient Rome 121–180

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