“Is your cucumber bitter? Throw it away. Are there briars in your path? Turn aside. That is enough. Do not go on to say, 'Why were things of this sort ever brought into the world?' The student of nature will only laugh at you; just as a carpenter or a shoemaker would laugh, if you found fault with the shavings and scraps from their work which you saw in the shop. Yet they, at least, have somewhere to throw their litter; whereas Nature has no such out-place. That is the miracle of her workmanship: that in spite of this self-limitation, she nevertheless transmutes into herself everything that seems worn-out or old or useless, and re-fashions it into new creations, so as never to need either fresh supplies from without, or a place to discard her refuse. Her own space, her own materials and her own skill are sufficient for her.”

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About Marcus Aurelius

Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher of the 2nd century CE He wrote *Meditations*, a private journal blending practical philosophy with reflections on duty, resilience, and the nature of existence. His work remains a cornerstone of Stoic thought, offering timeless guidance on self-mastery and perspective.

More from Marcus Aurelius (172 quotes) →
"Is your cucumber bitter? Throw it away. Are there briars in your path…" — Marcus Aurelius | Daily Quotes