THOUGTS FROM

“MEDITATIONS”

BY

MARCUS

AURELIUS,

ROMAN

EMPEROR AND

PHILOSOPHER

WHICH IS FULL UP OF VERY INTERESTING AND HELPFUL ADVICE, EVEN FOR

A LAYMAN SUCH AS MYSELF, OF HOW TO HANDLE OUR LIVES BETTER.

2

Marcus Aurelius was born on

April 26, 121, in Italy, and was

chosen by Emperor Hadrian to be

his successor. In 161, Aurelius

took control of the Roman Empire

along with his “brother” Verus,

who had also been adopted like

he himself by Aurelius Antonius,

according to Hadrian’s

instruction

War and disease threatened

Rome on all sides. Marcus

Aurelius held his territory, but

was weakened as a ruler after the

death of his brother Verus. His

son Commodus later became co-

ruler in 177, only three years

before Aurelius died on March 17,

180. He had been a very diligent

student, knew Latin and Greek,

but was most interested in

philosophy or fate, reason and

self-restraint.

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4

He said for example:

“The happiness of

your life depends

upon the quality of

your thoughts,

therefore guard

accordingly; and take

care that you

entertain no notions

unsuitable to virtue,

and reasonable

nature.”

http://rivella49.wordpress.c

om/

“LOOK WELL INTO YOURSELF; THERE IS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH

WHICH WILL ALWAYS SPRING UP IF YOU WILL ALWAYS LOOK

THERE. “

5

“FROM MY GRANDFATHER VERUS I HAVE LEARNT TO BE

GENTLE AND MEEK, AND TO REFRAIN FROM ALL ANGER AND

PASSION.”

6

“FROM MY MOTHER I HAVE LEARNT TO BE RELIGIOUS, AND BOUNTIFUL; AND

TO FORBEAR, NOT ONLY TO DO, BUT TO INTEND ANY EVIL; TO CONTENT

MYSELF WITH SPARE DIET, AND TO FLY ALL SUCH EXCESS AS IS INCIDENTAL

TO GREAT WEALTH.”

“FROM DIOGNETUS I LEARNT, NOT TO BUSY MYSELF ABOUT

VAIN THINGS, AND NOT EASILY TO BELIEVE THOSE THINGS,

WHICH ARE COMMONLY SPOKEN.”

“FROM RUSTICUS I LEARNT TO BE EASY AND READY TO BE

RECONCILED, AND WELL PLEASED WITH THEM THAT HAD OFFENDED

ME, AS SOON AS ANY OF THEM WOULD BE CONTENT TO SEEK INTO

ME AGAIN.”

“TO READ WITH DILIGENCE; NOT TO REST SATISFIED WITH A

LIGHT AND SUPERFICIAL KNOWLEDGE.”

“LET IT BE THE EARNEST AND INCESSANT CARE AS A ROMAN AND MAN TO

PERFORM WHATSOEVER IT IS THAT YOU ARE ABOUT, WITH TRUE AND

UNFEIGNED GRAVITY, NATURAL AFFECTION, FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.

7

IN THE SEVENTH BOOK HE ASKS WHAT WICKEDNESS IS AND GIVES THE FOLLOWING ANSWER:

“IT IS THAT WHICH MANY TIME AND OFTEN YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN AND KNOWN IN THE WORLD.

GENERALLY, ABOVE AND BELOW, YOU WILL FIND BUT THE SAME THINGS. THE VERY SAME THINGS

WHEREOF ANCIENT STORIES, MIDDLE AGE STORIES, AND FRESH STORIES ARE FULL.. ALL THINGS

THAT ARE, ARE BOTH USUAL AND OF LITTLE CONTINUANCE.”

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LABOUR NOT AS ONE TO WHOM IT IS APPOINTED TO BE WRETCHED, NOR AS

ONE THAT EITHER WOULD BE PITIED, OR ADMIRED; BUT LET THIS BE YOUR

ONLY CARE AND DESIRE; SO ALWAYS AND IN ALL THINGS TO PROSECUTE OR

TO FORBEAR, AS THE LAW OF CHARITY, OR MUTUAL SOCIETY DOES

REQUIRE.

9

IN THE NINTH BOOK HE SAID THAT HE THAT IS UNJUST IS ALSO IMPIOUS, BECAUSE THE

NATURE OF THE UNIVERSE, HAVING MADE ALL REASONABLE CREATURES ONE FOR

ANOTHER, TO THE END THAT THEY SHOULD DO ONE ANOTHER GOOD AND SHOULD IN

NOWISE HURT ONE ANOTHER.

HE ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE PROCEDURE IN CASE WE WOULD LIKE TO DO

SOMETHING, BUT DON’T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT AND ADVISED TO

RATHER GET HELP FROM SOMEBODY THAN TO GIVE UP A PLAN.

“HOW MUCH TIME HE SAVES, WHO DOES NOT LOOK TO SEE WHAT

HIS NEIGHBOR SAYS OR DOES OR THINKS.”

“IF YOU ARE PAINED BY EXTERNAL THINGS, IT IS NOT THEY THAT DISTURB

YOU, BUT YOUR OWN JUDGMENT OF THEM AND IT IS IN YOUR POWER TO

WIPE OUT THAT JUDGMENT NOW.”

“ALL THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD, ARE ALWAYS IN THE ESTATE

OF ALTERATION. YOU ARE IN A PERPETUAL CHANGE, YES AND

UNDER CORRUPTION TOO, IN SOME PART: AND SO IS THE WHOLE

WORLD. “ EVERY CHANGE FROM ONE AGE TO ANOTHER IS A KIND OF

DEATH!

.

FROM FRONTO I LEARNED TO OBSERVE WHAT ENVY, AND DUPLICITY, AND HYPOCRISY

ARE IN A TYRANT, AND THAT GENERALLY THOSE AMONG US WHO ARE CALLED

PATRICIANS ARE RATHER DEFICIENT IN PATERNAL AFFECTION.

MANY OF THOSE THINGS THAT TROUBLE AND STRAITEN YOU IT IS IN YOUR POWER TO

CUT OFF, AS WHOLLY DEPENDING FROM MERE CONCEIT AND OPINION; AND THEN YOU

WILL HAVE ROOM ENOUGH.

AND THESE YOUR PROFESSED POLITICIANS, THE ONLY TRUE PRACTICAL

PHILOSOPHERS OF THE WORLD, (AS THEY THINK OF THEMSELVES) SO FULL

OF AFFECTED GRAVITY, OR SUCH PROFESSED LOVERS OF VIRTUE AND

HONESTY, WHAT WRETCHES ARE THEY IN VERY DEED; HOW VILE AND

CONTEMPTIBLE IN THEMSELVES?

“IT IS NOT DEATH THAT A MAN SHOULD FEAR, BUT HE SHOULD

FEAR NEVER BEGINNING TO LIVE.”