Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. 

3/5 rating. 304 pages.

Book #48 of 2023. Read November 24, 2023.

This is a book of writings by the philosopher -ruler of Rome in the second century A.D.

Aurelius was a very deep thinker who believed in the ideas of the stoics. He talks a lot in this book about how we are all meant to do the work “that we were made for”, the briefness of life, and that we should not be ruled by emotion.

This is the kind of book that is meant to be read deeply and thought over. It functions basically as a meditation on the things that we let impact us in our daily lives: the emotions that we respond with in so many unnecessary situations. This comes down in living in the moment and not letting worries about the past or future ruin it.

As Aurelius says: “The only thing that isn’t worthless: to live this life out truthfully and rightly. And be patient with those who don’t.”

“External things are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now.”

Additional Quotes:

“Everyone gets one life. Yours is almost used up, and instead of treating yourself with respect, you have entrusted your own happiness to the souls of others.”

“People who labor all their lives but have no purpose to direct every thought and impulse toward are wasting their time – even when hard at work.”

“People try to get away from it all – to the country, to the beach, to the mountains. You always wish that you could too. Which is idiotic: you can get away from it anytime you like. By going within. Nowhere you can go is more peaceful – more free of interruptions – than your own soul.”

“The tranquility that comes when you stop caring what they say. Or think, or do. Only what you do.”

“If you seek tranquility, do less.”

“Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquility. Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’”

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work – as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for – the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’”

“But true good fortune is what you make for yourself. Good fortune: good character, good intentions, and good actions.”

“You don’t have to turn this into something. It doesn’t have to upset you. Things can’t shape our decisions by themselves.”

“Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their minds.”

“Don’t be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish. And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up? So what?”

“The mind in itself has no needs, except for those it creates itself. Is undisturbed, except for its own disturbance. Knows no obstructions, except those from within.”

“And why should we feel anger at the world? As if the world would notice!”

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.”

“Perfection of character: to live your last day, every day, without frenzy, or sloth, or pretense.”

“Blame no one. Set people straight, is you can. If not, repair the damage.”

“Stick to what’s in front of you – idea, action, utterance.”

“Then remind yourself that past and future have no power over you. Only the present – and even that can be minimized.”

“If you can see the road, follow it. Cheerfully, without turning back. If not, hold up and get the best advice you can. If anything gets in the way, forge on ahead, making good use of what you have on hand, sticking to what seems right.”

“To stop talking about what the good man is like, and just be one.”

“Have I done something for the common good? Then I share in the benefits.”

“To live a good live. We have the potential for it. If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference.”

“It is we who generate the judgments – inscribing them on ourselves.”

“You have to know an awful lot before you can judge other people’s actions with real understanding.”

“kindness is invincible”

“It’s courtesy and kindness that define a human being – and a man. That’s who possesses strength and nerves and guts, not the angry whiners.”

#meditations #marcusaurelius #stoicism #rome #philosophy #bookreviews

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