One of the most important variables in my transition from boy to man was stumbling upon Marcus Aurelius’Meditations. I’ve several copies,all dog-eared and heavily annotated. It’s soothing and comforting to sit and read him.
Here’re the memoirs of on Rome’s 5 Good Emperors,summarized as tightly as i can:
My grandfather Verus taught me to be candid and to control my temper. I thank the gods that my relatives and servants were almost all good persons,that my wife is deferential,affectionate and frugal,and that,when I came to philosophy I did not waste time in logic or reading. Put away your books and face the matter itself.
As for your body,value it no more than if you were just expiring;it is nothing but a little blood and bones. Your breath is but a little air pumped in and out. But the third part is your mind. Here make a stand.
Remember that you are a man and a Roman,and let your actions be done with dignity,gravity,humanity,freedom and justice;let every action be done as though it were your last. Have neither insincerity nor self-love. Pleasure and pain,riches and poverty –all these are common to the virtuous and the depraved,and therefore intrinsically neither good not evil.
Do not spend your thoughts upon other people,nor pry into the talk,fancies and projects of another,nor guess at what he is about,or why he is doing it. Let your choice run all one way,and be resolute for that which is best. And to this end be always provided with a few short,uncontested notions,to keep your understanding true. The whole world is but one commonwealth,for there is no other society in which mankind can be incorporated. Whatever is agreeable to You,O Universe,is so to me,too. Mankind are poor,transitory things;one day in life,and the next turned to ashes. Go straight forward,pursuing your own and the common interest. We ought to live with the gods. But let all be done out of mere love and kindness.
Reflect upon those who have made the most glorious figure or have met with the greatest misfortunes. Where are they all now? They are vanished like a little smoke.
marcus aurelius
