Meditations

Dive into the mind of Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor with a philosopher's heart, in his deeply reflective work, "Meditations." These personal writings reveal his journey toward wisdom through Stoic philosophy, filled with profound insights on living virtuously amidst life's challenges. It offers timeless guidance on resilience, self-discipline, and the art of rational thinking. Whether you're seeking advice for modern dilemmas or historical inspiration, this philosophical gem speaks across the ages.

Fun Fact: Despite being one of the most influential philosophical texts, "Meditations" was never meant for an audience—it was Marcus Aurelius's personal diary. Yet here it is, resonating through time.

Foundational Stoic principles

On nature and the universe's interconnectedness

Nothing can happen to any man which is not a human accident, nor to an ox which is not according to the nature of an ox, nor to a vine which is not according to the nature of a vine, nor to a stone which is not proper to a stone. If then there happens to each thing both what is usual and natural, why should you complain? For the common nature brings nothing which may not be borne by you.

• Nothing is evil which is according to nature.

• Frequently consider the connection of all things in the universe and their relation to one another. All things are implicated with one another, and the bond is holy; and there is hardly anything unconnected with any other thing. For things have been coordinated, and they combine to form the same universe (order).

On rationality and perspective

• If you are pained by any external thing, it is not this thing that disturbs you, but your own judgment about it. And it is in your power to wipe out this judgment now.

• It is in our power to have no opinion about a thing, and not to be disturbed in our soul; for things themselves have no natural power to form our judgments.

Mastering the self

On self-discipline

And you will give yourself relief, if you do every act of your life as if it were the last, laying aside all carelessness and passionate aversion from the commands of reason, and all hypocrisy, and self-love, and discontent with the portion which has been given to you.

• Remember how long you hast been putting off these things, and how often you hast received an opportunity from the gods, and yet do not use it. You must now at last perceive of what universe you are a part, and of what administrator of the universe your existence is an efflux, and that a limit of time is fixed for you, which if you do not use for clearing away the clouds from your mind, it will go and you will go, and it will never return.

• Do not waste the remainder of your life in thoughts about others, when you do not refer your thoughts to some object of common utility.

• Let no act be done without a purpose, nor otherwise than according to the perfect principles of art.

On mindfulness and focus

• For a man cannot lose either the past or the future: for what a man has not, how can anyone take this from him? For the present is the only thing of which a man can be deprived, if it is true that this is the only thing which he has, and that a man cannot lose a thing if he has it not.

• Constantly then give to yourself this retreat, and renew yourself; and let your principles be brief and fundamental, which, as soon as you shall recur to them, will be sufficient to cleanse the soul completely, and to send you back free from all discontent with the things to which you return.

• Through not observing what is in the mind of another a man has seldom been seen to be unhappy; but those who do not observe the movements of their own minds must of necessity be unhappy.

On self-reflection

If a thing is difficult to be accomplished by yourself, do not think that it is impossible for man: but if anything is possible for man and conformable to his nature, think that this can be attained by yourself too.

• We ought then to check in the series of our thoughts everything that is without a purpose and useless, but most of all the over-curious feeling and the malignant; and a man should use himself to think of those things only about which if one should suddenly ask, What have you now in your thoughts?

• About what am I now employing my own soul? On every occasion I must ask myself this question, and inquire, what have I now in this part of me which they call the ruling principle?

• When you wish to delight yourself, think of the virtues of those who live with you; for instance, the activity of one, and the modesty of another, and the liberality of a third, and some other good quality of a fourth.

The nature of life and death

Consider that before long you will be nobody and nowhere, nor will any of the things exist which you now see, nor any of those who are now living. For all things are formed by nature to change and be turned and to perish in order that other things in continuous succession may exist.

• Every moment think steadily as a Roman and a man to do what you hast in hand with perfect and simple dignity, and feeling of affection, and freedom, and justice; and to give yourself relief from all other thoughts.

• Always observe how ephemeral and worthless human things are, and what was yesterday a little mucus to-morrow will be a mummy or ashes. Pass then through this little space of time conformably to nature, and end your journey in content, just as an olive falls off when it is ripe, blessing nature who produced it, and thanking the tree on which it grew.

• And, to say all in a word, everything which belongs to the body is a stream, and what belongs to the soul is a dream and vapor, and life is a warfare and a stranger's sojourn, and after-fame is oblivion.

Finding inner peace and practicing virtue

But fortunate means that a man has assigned to himself a good fortune: and a good fortune is good disposition of the soul, good emotions, good actions.

• For nowhere either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul, particularly when he has within him such thoughts that by looking into them he is immediately in perfect tranquility; and I affirm that tranquility is nothing else than the good ordering of the mind.

• A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.

The perfection of moral character consists in this, in passing every day as the last, and in being neither violently excited nor torpid nor playing the hypocrite.

• For the whole contains nothing which is not for its advantage.

Interpersonal relationships and freedom

• To my own free will the free will of my neighbor is just as indifferent as his poor breath and flesh. For though we are made especially for the sake of one another, still the ruling power of each of us has its own office, for otherwise my neighbor's wickedness would be my harm, which God has not willed in order that my unhappiness may not depend on another.

• Well, then, is it not better to use what is in your power like a free man than to desire in a slavish and abject way what is not in your power?

Practical Stoic Exercises

Ask yourself

What am I now employing my own soul for? Are my thoughts aligned with reason and virtue?

Reflect on universal connection

Frequently consider the connection of all things in the universe and their relation to one another.