The world was never meant to read Meditations. It was the private journal of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who historians believe ordered a servant to burn upon his death in 180 A.D. Thankfully the servant disobeyed, and nearly a millennium later, it continues to be a source of inspiration and instruction for generations.
Serial entrepreneur Tim Ferriss, American soldiers in the jungles of Vietnam, and even Thomas Jefferson have found Aurelius' writings to be approachable guidelines to facing adversity and pursuing success. I first encountered the work thanks to marketer and writer Ryan Holiday in 2012, who since then I've had the pleasure of interviewing on Meditations and Stoicism at large.
Serial entrepreneur Tim Ferriss, American soldiers in the jungles of Vietnam, and even Thomas Jefferson have found Aurelius' writings to be approachable guidelines to facing adversity and pursuing success. I first encountered the work thanks to marketer and writer Ryan Holiday in 2012, who since then I've had the pleasure of interviewing on Meditations and Stoicism at large.
WHY I LOVE IT
Aurelius' private journal shows the soul of a man searching for the strength and wisdom he needs to navigate the deadly political games in Rome, and find peace in his work, marriage, and friendships. I love how he begins it: with a Thank You List of sorts, naming family and friends who've taught him important lessons:
Aurelius' journal is an honest, messy quest to improve himself, to stay centered on the important things in life, to deal with obstacles and to focus on what he can control, especially his own thoughts, emotions, and actions. This 2000 year old self help book is one of my favorites. I don't agree with all of his philosophical points, but I adore his approach and commitment to taking stock of his own character.
As the man writes to himself on his journal's last page, struggling with some problem lost to history now but seeking the truth in himself and the world, "No star wears a veil." {JG}
- "From my great-grandfather: not to have attended schools for the public; to have had good teachers at home, and to realize that this is the sort of thing on which one should spend lavishly."
- "From Rusticus: to grasp the idea of wanting correction and treatment for my character... to be readily recalled to conciliation with those who have taken or given offense…"
- "From Alexander the grammarian: not to leap on mistakes or captiously interrupt when anyone makes an error of vocabulary, syntax, or pronunciation, but neatly to introduce the correct form of that particular expression by way of answer…"
Aurelius' journal is an honest, messy quest to improve himself, to stay centered on the important things in life, to deal with obstacles and to focus on what he can control, especially his own thoughts, emotions, and actions. This 2000 year old self help book is one of my favorites. I don't agree with all of his philosophical points, but I adore his approach and commitment to taking stock of his own character.
As the man writes to himself on his journal's last page, struggling with some problem lost to history now but seeking the truth in himself and the world, "No star wears a veil." {JG}
TOP 10 QUOTES
10. "From Rusticus: to grasp the idea of wanting correction and treatment for my character... to be readily recalled to conciliation with those who have taken or given offense…"
9. “No role is so well suited to philosophy as the one you happen to be in right now.”
8. “The blazing fire makes flames and brightness out of everything thrown into it.”
7. "Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."
6. "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one."
5. "Whatever anyone does or says, I must be a good man. It is as if an emerald, or gold or purple, were always saying: 'Whatever anyone does or says, I must be an emerald and keep my own color.'"
4. "The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it."
3. “No more wandering. You are not likely to read your own jottings, your histories of the ancient Greeks and Romans, your extracts from their literature laid up for your old age. Hurry then to the end, abandon vain hopes, rescue yourself, if you have any care for yourself, while the opportunity is still there.”
2. "Man must be arched and buttressed from within, else the temple will crumble to dust."
1. "No star wears a veil."
9. “No role is so well suited to philosophy as the one you happen to be in right now.”
8. “The blazing fire makes flames and brightness out of everything thrown into it.”
7. "Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."
6. "Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one."
5. "Whatever anyone does or says, I must be a good man. It is as if an emerald, or gold or purple, were always saying: 'Whatever anyone does or says, I must be an emerald and keep my own color.'"
4. "The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it."
3. “No more wandering. You are not likely to read your own jottings, your histories of the ancient Greeks and Romans, your extracts from their literature laid up for your old age. Hurry then to the end, abandon vain hopes, rescue yourself, if you have any care for yourself, while the opportunity is still there.”
2. "Man must be arched and buttressed from within, else the temple will crumble to dust."
1. "No star wears a veil."
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