Avoid unnatural work. Marcus Aurelius 4.24

Marcus Aurelius wants to avoid doing too many things. He tells himself to act only when nature and necessity call him out, to avoid the temptation to become very busy doing unnatural, unnecessary things. Such things compromise our ability to do what really matters, allowing our minds to become so occupied with trivia that we cannot engage in serious work.

«Ὀλίγα πρῆσσε, φησίν, εἰ μέλλεις εὐθυμήσειν.» μήποτε ἄμεινον τἀναγκαῖα πράσσειν καὶ ὅσα ὁ τοῦ φύσει πολιτικοῦ ζῴου λόγος αἱρεῖ καὶ ὡς αἱρεῖ; τοῦτο γὰρ οὐ μόνον τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ καλῶς πράσσειν εὐθυμίαν φέρει, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀλίγα πράσσειν. τὰ πλεῖστα γὰρ ὧν λέγομεν καὶ πράσσομεν οὐκ ἀναγκαῖα ὄντα ἐάν τις περιέλῃ, εὐσχολώτερος καὶ ἀταρακτότερος ἔσται. ὅθεν δεῖ καὶ παρ’ ἕκαστα ἑαυτὸν ὑπομιμνῄσκειν· μήτι τοῦτο οὐ τῶν ἀναγκαίων; δεῖ δὲ μὴ μόνον πράξεις τὰς μὴ ἀναγκαίας περιαιρεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ φαντασίας· οὕτως γὰρ οὐδὲ πράξεις παρέλκουσαι ἐπακολουθήσουσιν.

"Make your actions few, if you intend to be happy." Wouldn't it be better to do nothing except what is necessary, letting the reason that belongs to us as naturally political animals choose both our actions and the methods we employ to bring them about? This approach provides two benefits: one from acting well, in keeping with nature, and the other from avoiding useless work. For most of the deeds that fill our mouths and hands are not necessary, and the man who casts them aside will emerge calmer, better suited to enjoy the fruits of his leisure. The futility of most business appears evident in the fact that we must make an effort to remember it, forming itemized lists that touch each matter in turn: how could such arbitrary things be necessary? It is not just unnecessary action we should avoid: we must cast off also unnecessary imagination, which brings futile deeds in its wake, dragging us away from our true labors.