Meditations

It feels like it would be a mistake to scrutinize Meditations based on its style or structure or even its overall messaging, given the fact that it was never intended to be a published work of literature read by anyone but its author. Regardless of its contents, I felt a bit in awe of its very existence: a private book of thoughts written by a powerful Roman emperor almost 2,000 years ago. With a whole section of all the most important things each of his loved ones taught him, it’s so cute.

And yet, I found the actual contents to be even more humbling. Our friend Marcus is just so damn relatable. We have half the modern universe of self-help books contained in this one compilation of ancient writing: Focus on your own actions, don’t worry about what other people are doing. You only have control over your own mind. Life is brief, so use your time wisely. We are all one with nature. People are annoying as hell, just try to ignore it.

All very sound advice. Yes, it becomes repetitive. Yes, he is extremely preoccupied with his own mortality. But again, this was his own private diary. What is more relatable of reminding yourself over and over again of principles you already know, just because they are hard to live by? Be brave soldier, death isn’t that bad! It’s still worth helping people even if you don’t get any thanks or praise! Be grateful!

I added some memorable quotes on the following slide, although you can open to just about any page and see something that resonates.

QUOTES

“The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”

“So other people hurt me? That’s their problem. Their character and actions are not mine. What is done to me is ordained by nature, what I do by my own.”

“When jarred, unavoidably, by circumstances, revert at once to yourself, and don’t lose the rhythm more than you can help.”

“Alexander the Great and his mule driver both died, and the same thing happened to both.”

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

“Don’t be ashamed to need help.”

“When people injure you, ask yourself what good or harm they thought would come of it. If you understand that, you’ll feel sympathy rather than outrage or anger.”

“Treat what you don’t have as nonexistent. Look at what you have, the things you value most, and think of how much you’d crave them if you didn’t have them.”

“It’s silly to try to escape other people’s faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.”

“People exist for one another. You can instruct or endure them.”

“It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”

“Everything’s destiny is to change, to be transformed, to perish. So that new things can be born.”

Book author: Marcus Aurelius