meditations marcus aurelius reddit

A Roman emperor from 161 to 180 A.D., Marcus practiced Stoicism and wrote about his own Stoic practice in his journals. I’ve added emphasis to quotes in bold throughout this post. Well… Gratitude. The Emperor Marcus Antoninus His Conversation with Himself. 10. To think then that we are gaining something by being praised is a mistake. We have opinions on whether so-and-so should have done this and we watch the media chatter about it. It is imminently readable and perfectly accessible. What can take place without change? And it’s funny to think that his writings may be as special as they are because they were never intended for us to be read. Statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback. If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.~ Marcus Aurelius. (Sign up for our free 7-day course on Stoicism to see our interview with Professor Hays). The best Meditations translation is by Gregory Hays. In my own reflections, I simply… In many important ways, the reflections of Marcus Aurelius (121-180) crystallize the philosophical wisdom of the Greco-Roman world. He cites a philosopher, Theophrastus, who claims that bad acts committed because of desires are more blameworthy than evils done out of anger. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” That was a personal reminder to continue living a life of virtue NOW, and not wait. Despite his privileges as an Emperor, Marcus Aurelius had a difficult life. Below are some of the major themes that recur throughout the book. Press J to jump to the feed. “The impediment to action advances action. The Robin Hard (Oxford World Classics) translation includes selected letters between Marcus Aurelius and his rhetoric teacher Fronto as well, which is nice as it gives you another perspective on the guy. It’s for this reason that Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations is a somewhat inscrutable book—it was for personal clarity and not public benefit. Aurelius was a student of stoic philosophy. And when it comes to problems, we find in Marcus a formula, an art known as turning obstacles upside down. Then we will find that we are less prone to blaming them. Our rational minds have complete power over our opinions and the mind only experiences suffering when it itself creates a desire for a specific outcome in life. “Other people’s mistakes?” he reminded himself, should be left to their makers. We won't send you spam. However, Rufus Fears demurs, in his lectures on Famous Romans he contends that Marcus Aurelius was an incompetent emperor because he failed to make the difficult decisions he should have made for the good of the Roman Empire. Forget what other people are doing, forget what they’re doing wrong. Much of it echoes Ecclesiastes. When Marcus speaks of the certainty of death and how relatively soon it will come, he is not idly philosophizing. There’s no question that this has increased the amount of so-called drama in our lives. “The best revenge,” he said, “is not to be like that.” Meaning: When you hurt others, you hurt the group and you hurt yourself. When you move forward in life, you climb a little bit higher, but your ambitions also get higher. And canst thou be nourished, unless the food undergoes a change? Do not rest or eat or drink more than is sufficient, "so you do not love yourself." (Meditations, 8.59)Here are my attempts to (partially) retranslate, from ancient Greek into more contemporary English, some key passages from The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius dealing with Stoic strategies for overcoming anger and cultivating empathy. We created this memento mori coin to act as a reminder to not obsess over trivialities, or trying to become famous, make more money than we could ever spend, or make plans far off in the future. “Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. how much of Stoicism is essentially journaling, the pursuit of fame and praise is foolish, we could die at any moment and to live to the fullest while we still can, You could leave life right now. Photo by Antonello Nusca/Gamma-Rapho/Getty ‘When I was a child, when I was an adolescent, books saved me from despair: that convinced me that culture was the highest of values.’ This little book was written as a diary to himself while emperor fighting a war out on the boarder of the Roman Empire and today this book is known to us as The Meditations. Equally sure, no matter how our election turns out, no one will be reading the ”Meditations … It’s not organized by theme, but certain ideas keep popping up throughout, indicating that he thought them the most important for him (and therefore us) to understand and incorporate into the way we live. Machiavelli considers the time of rule under Marcus “golden time” and him the last of the “Five Good Emperors.” Machiavelli would also describe Marcus Aurelius as “unassuming, a lover of justice, hater of cruelty, sympathetic and kind”. And I find it incredible that more than 2.000 years ago there was a man, at the head of what was back then the most powerful empire in the world, t… It was a form of memento mori – an ancient practice of meditating on your mortality. And can anything else that is useful be accomplished without change?”. Making certain that what impedes us can empower us. So, who was Marcus? There are dozens of other translations. Fame, no matter how great, will always fade into oblivion and pursuit of it merely demonstrates one’s vanity. said. He even casts our fear of change (including our death) in a somewhat ridiculous light, saying, “Is any man afraid of change? Marcus and the Stoics see doing good as the proper job of a human being. Focus on yourself—focus on what you might be doing wrong. He points out that so many famous men have been forgotten, that those who would praise one posthumously will themselves soon die. These are the types of men who drive our world forward. We see what they say on social media and we get their texts and photos. Translated by George Long. [PDF] [EPUB] Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Read, Download. You cannot read this book and not come away with a phrase or a line that will be helpful to you the next time you are in trouble. Subscribe to get our free Daily Stoic email. You may also enjoy my own How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius … MEDITATIONS OF MARCUS AURELIUS INTRODUCTION Marcus Aurelius' Meditations - tr. Adding on to what /u/cleomedes said, if you want to buy one of the modern translations recommended in the FAQ, you can find the George Long and George Chrystal translations for free online. It’s time we stop pretending otherwise. The changing of anything into something else is never harmful to the universe, and Marcus applies that lack of harmfulness to every part of the universe, including us. I find absolutely fascinating that a man who lived more than 2.000 years ago already had all the ideas that most of today’s self-help industry is based on. Because you were successful? Life is like many things, but let’s use climbing a mountain as an example. They are inescapable. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the Roman Emperor, His Meditations Concerning Himselfe. My Review: 4/5 stars. But then he says sometimes it is necessary to rest, but not in excess. “Of human life the time is a point, and the substance is in a flux….and the soul a whirl” (II.17). Since this is so, there is no reason we should not agree with nature, since nature has provided us with the means to rationally accept the course of events no matter where they take us. Rather than try to rewrite the text, I've merely flagged language that I find sexist. Few ancient works have been as influential as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, philosopher and emperor of Rome (A.D. 161–180). His real name was M. Annius Verus, and he was sprung of a noble family which claimed descent from Numa, second King of Rome. So why on earth do you need thanks or recognition for having done the right thing? He is an inspiring example for us to think about today if we get tired, frustrated, or have to deal with some crisis. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was renowned for his ability to remain calm in the face of provocation. Quick Housekeeping: All quotes are from Marcus Aurelius translated by Gregory Hays unless otherwise stated. . We’ve all heard of the phase, ‘happiness comes from within.” But what does that mean? Unsubscribe at any time. My Review: Meditation by Marcus Aurelius is a book one should read at least once in their life. Contents Title Page Chronology Half Title Page Introduction by Gregory Hays Meditations Book 1: Debts and Lessons Book 2: On the River Gran, Among the Quadi Book 3: In Carnuntum Book 4 Book 5 Book 6 Book 7 Book 8 Book 9 Book 10 Marcus also mentions, also surprisingly, that his Latin rhetoric tutor Fronto mainly taught him: “to have some conception of the malice, caprice, and hypocrisy that accompany absolute rule; and that, on the whole, those whom we rank as patricians are somewhat lacking in natural affection” (Meditations, 1.11). We know about the comings and goings of celebrities and politicians. He also explains that nothing is made better by praise, the beauty of things comes from the thing itself and not what people say about it. Buy on Amazon. He also recommended remembering the following whenever we experience anxiety: “Let not future things disturb you, for you will come to them, if it shall be necessary, having with you the same reason which you now use for present things.”. “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. What then is more pleasing or more suitable to the universal nature? He also reminds us that we could die at any moment and to live to the fullest while we still can. Few ancient works have been as influential as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, philosopher and emperor of Rome (A.D. 161–180). Marcus reminded himself to not be upset by the misdeeds of others and to correct them if possible, but if they were stubborn and would not change, to accept it. Fix that. Ok, here’s the deal. It’s your job. The desire for fame is just one of the pitfalls in life. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius | Book Summary and PDF In the Marcus Aurelius Meditations PDF summary you will learn: How to avoid procrastination Staying calm under pressure The power of perception Valuing your own opinion over others' opinions 4 specific keys to handling obstacles The following are fundamental ideas from the great Roman emperor and […] Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Not a day goes by that we don’t hear gossip or speculation about someone we know. Once you’ve achieved a particular goal in life, you just set a new one and keep climbing. What does a good emperor advise us, and also his successors? The first book of Meditations consists of Marcus thanking the people who had a positive influence on his life, with a focus on those who instilled in him traits characteristic of a good Stoic. What stands in the way becomes the way.”, “Concentrate every minute like a Roman—like a man—on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice. . Meditations is the translated and published personal writings of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180). Theodore Roosevelt, after his presidency, spent eight months exploring (and nearly dying in) the unknown jungles of the Amazon, and of the eight books he brought on the journey, two were Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and Epictetus’ Enchiridion. He believed that people do bad things out of ignorance of what is good and evil, and that we should forgive them for their errors, even when they harm us. Casaubon v. 8.16, www.philaletheians.co.uk, 30 September 2017 Page 4 of 130 Introduction ARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS was born on April 26, A.D 121. Marcus became a legend thereafter, with many believing it was Marcus Aurelius’ devoted life that won the respect and admiration of the gods, who in turn saved him and his army. The book was not written with the intent to be published. Limit yourself to the present.”, Just as Frederick the Great reportedly rode into battle with the works of the Stoics in his saddlebags, so too did marine and NATO commander General James “Mad Dog” Mattis, who carried Meditations with him on deployments in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq. There are many other desires, all of which can potentially lead us to act immorally. He explains it perfectly when he says, “Whatever anyone does or says, I must be good, just as if the gold, or the emerald, or the purple were always saying this, whatever anyone does or says, I must be emerald and keep my color.”, Or as he put it in what would become one of the most emblematic quotes from Meditations, “Choose not to be harmed — and you won’t feel harmed. He believed (like all Stoics) that our reason could be used to understand the universal reason present in nature, which would lead to agreement with it even if events seemed harmful. Marcus Aurelius’s strongest philosophy comes when he speaks on the eternally changing nature of the universe and the acceptance of death. The George Hays translation is the best imo. This is a trap. r/MarcusAurelius: Marcus Aurelius, philosophy, stoicism, Meditations. You need to constantly remind yourself of the standards you have set for yourself, who you aspire to be, and these are especially important when you come short. He likened his relation to bad people to them being different body parts of the same person. Meditations isn’t. What stands in the way becomes the way.”*. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius podcast on demand - Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor and philosopher who wrote Meditations; insights which were considered to give the meaning of life. Marcus repeatedly explains why the pursuit of fame and praise is foolish and why we especially should not care about what others think of us after we die. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”, “Ambition means tying your well-being to what other people say or do…Sanity means tying it to your own actions.”, “Discard your misperceptions. He is recommending that this fact advise our decision-making and how we view the events in our lives. “Thou wilt soon die, and thou art not yet simple, not free from perturbations, nor without suspicion of being hurt by external things, nor kindly disposed towards all; nor dost thou yet place wisdom only in acting justly.”. Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180 AD) was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 and is considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers. A series of spiritual exercises filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behaviour, it remains one of … Buy this Summary on Amazon: https://geni.us/MeditationsSummaryBook (Affiliate link)This is my own summary of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. If we don’t let events make us worse people, we are never truly harmed by them. The Meditations admonish us, Do not be lazy! Of course, The Daily Stoic also offers all-new original translations of Marcus from Meditations as translated by Stephen Hanselman. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. That you couldn’t hurt one person without hurting them all. Marcus Aurelius Meditations is the diary of a man who tirelessly worked on himself to become better and better and to gain deeper and deeper mental mastery. The Roman historian Cassius Dio mused that Marcus “did not meet with the good fortune that he deserved, for he was not strong in body and was involved in a multitude of troubles throughout practically his entire reign.” But throughout these struggles he never gave up. Marcus Aurelius once wrote “You could leave life right now. but there can be no impeding our intentions or dispositions. Coming from this particular man, these were not idle words. About Meditations. So that setbacks or problems are always expected and never permanent. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by Project Gutenberg. We get real time updates on everything our friends do. edit: Several of the older translation are free online, but they are often in archaic English. I think the clearest of the free online translations is the one by George Chrystal, but I still much prefer several of the more modern (not free) ones. He writes in modern plain English and understands how to make Marcus’s words concise and fluid. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts It can be found here. It shows how some of the most successful people in history—from John D. Rockefeller to Amelia Earhart to Ulysses S. Grant to Steve Jobs—have applied Stoicism to overcome difficult or even impossible situations. The impediment to action advances action. But how? Meditations is perhaps the only document of its kind ever made. In his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius makes clear his desire to build just such a universal empire, a world without borders that cuts across all cultures and countries. Men have come into being for one another; so either educate them or put up with them. Meditations originally had no title and was written by Marcus Aurelius for his own benefit, not for an audience. Every appearance is the result of what the mind wills it to appear to be and the mind makes itself exactly what it is. Be one.”, “If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.”, “The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS was born on April 26, A.D. 121. Desires can also lead to despair. Read it, it is practical philosophy embodied. To act with “a reverse clause,” so there is always a way out or another route to get to where you need to go. *This is the quote that inspired the bestselling cult Stoic classic, The Obstacle Is the Way. Because you were talented? This infographic's objective is to summarize 303 pages / ~45,700 words of this book into 8 simple points you can easily follow and digest. Even 2,000 years ago Marcus knew this. Pierre Hadot’s The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is a classic. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: Book Summary, Key Lessons and Best Quotes. Let that determine what you do and say and think. It is the private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man giving advice to himself on how to make good on the responsibilities and obligations of his positions. You see how few things you have to do to live a satisfying and reverent life? A series of short audio commentaries on one of the classic texts of Stoicism, The emperor Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. You’ve got enough on your plate. Marcus Aurelius—and indeed all the Stoics—believed that we were part of an inner-connected organism. These things are part of the job too. Nearly two thousand years after it was written, Meditations remains profoundly relevant for anyone seeking to lead a meaningful life. When we remember that Ecclesiastes 1 should be translated as “vapor” rather than vanity, we gain a new appreciation for Marcus’s words. Lanterns on the Levee author William Alexander Percy observed in his autobiography that “there is left to each of us, no matter how far defeat pierces, the unassailable wintry kingdom of Marcus Aurelius. These include valuing reason above all else, not being absorbed by petty things, limiting passions and desires, sober decision-making followed by firm commitment to the choice made, honesty and never being secretive, cheerfulness in the face of obstacles, and avoiding superstition and the influence of sophistry. It is the private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man giving advice to himself on how to make good on the responsibilities and obligations of his positions. It has some old English in it, with “thee” and “thy” but if you’re looking to test some of the material before purchasing a copy it is a decent place to start. The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus … It is worth remembering that Marcus is one of history’s most exemplary leaders and one worth emulating in our own lives. The translations by Hard and Hammond are both clear and easy to read, and have a good reputation for accuracy. Short answer: Gregory Hays's translation is beautiful, but may not always be an accurate representation of what M.A. The best free translation, is by George Long. In reacting to such people, we must never allow our own principles to be violated. Marcus knew that our ability to reason is what sets us apart from the animals and is an important power that we must use to the fullest. Instead of theorizing about what we should do if either there is a guiding intelligence in the universe, or if everything is just atoms, he prescribes one viewpoint that typically follows Stoic thinking, and explains why both possible truths would lead to the same best actions and beliefs. “Never regard something as doing you good if it makes you betray a trust, or lose your sense of shame, or make you show hatred, suspicion, ill will, hypocrisy, or desire for things best done behind closed doors.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 7, 3. There’s no need—and frankly, there’s not enough time—to waste a second spying on other people. The Meditations has been divided into the following sections: Book One [28k] Book Two [24k] Book Three [28k] Book Four [39k] Book Five [38k] Book Six [40k] Book Seven [39k] Book Eight [40k] Book Nine [38k] Keep an eye fixed on your own life. “Nothing is evil which is according to nature,” he asserts. Bill Clinton reportedly reads it once a year, and one can imagine him handing a copy to Hillary after her heart-wrenching loss in the US presidential election. Gratitude is the key to happiness. “When you’ve done well and another has benefited by it, why like a fool do you look for a third thing on top— credit for the good deed or a favor in return?”. Add to Goodreads. Image Credit amazon. Likely never intended for publishing, Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books, (effectively chapters) of Meditations over the course of his life. Good and bad people are both part of the same universal nature and they are meant to interact and cooperate. The FAQ question gives a list, and notes which are full translations, and which are abridgements. “What injures the hive, injures the bee,” he said. So whichever modern translation you choose to buy, you'll then have three different translations to compare, plus the version you currently own. As he would write, “Our actions may be impeded . Five of the main themes in this book are: change, death and the shortness of life; the role and importance of the rational mind and will; dealing with others and accepting their shortcomings; avoiding the chase for pleasure and fame; and living according to nature and fully accepting its course. Could it be that Aurelius saw the church as a competitor to his vision of universal brotherhood? We are a community committed to learning about and applying Stoic principles and techniques. Meditations is perhaps the only document of its kind ever made. Learn more about the meaning behind Daily Stoic's most popular medallion. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting.”. Marcus wrote two elaborate lists of Stoic … Marcus Aurelius Meditations A New Translation, with an Introduction, by Gregory Hays THE MODERN LIBRARY NEW YORK. As someone with a casual / layman's interest in various philosophies, I read some of the writings from the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Markou Antoninou tou Autokratoros to¯n eis heauton biblia 12 (1652). Almost every other piece of literature is a kind of performance—it’s made for the audience. ; For quick access if you buy the book, I’ve shown the book number and chapter/verse number at the end of each quote (for instance, 6.10 means Book 6, Chapter/Verse 10). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. A person who has been harmed was wronged, whereas the person with strong desires is ignoring the well-being of others because they want something more than they want to be virtuous. Just try to escape your own.”. And during those years of struggle, particularly while he was directing military campaigns, Marcus would write twelve books of his private journals, which is estimated to has been between 170 and 180 A.D. Chinese leader Wen Jiabao has re-read the book on countless occasions. This translation uses sexist language. It is the way of our world that substances should change into new things. So naturally… From the Dover Thrift Edition: “ Meditations, ” Marcus Aurelius (Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, NY), ISBN 0-486-29823-X. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Some are quotes, most are prescriptions for self-improvement. And on freeing yourself from all other distractions. On one such occasion, a notoriously hot-tempered, and extremely wealthy, aristocrat called Herodes Atticus lost his temper with Marcus, who was presiding over a legal dispute between him and the citizens of Athens. In fact, their original title (Ta eis heauton) roughly translates as To Himself. Marcus addresses this when he talks about prayer, claiming that one should not asks the gods to satisfy a desire or prevent something feared, but ask them if they can remove the desire and be okay with whatever life gives to them. Marcus stresses that social animals such as humans are meant to live in harmony. Matthew Arnold, the essayist, remarked in 1863, that in Marcus we find a man who held the highest and most powerful station in the world—and the universal verdict of the people around him was that he proved himself worthy of it. Don’t feel harmed — and you haven’t been.”. Click here to learn more and purchase your own memento mori medallion. Why would you need to be famous? The longest and shortest life will end the same way and be finished for the same eternity. Unabridged, modernized Dover (1997) republication of the George Long translation. While you’re alive and able — be good.”, Marcus teaches that we should act quickly to get our affairs in order and take advantage of our fleeting existence and live well. Writing down Stoic exercises was and is also a form of practicing them, just as repeating a prayer or hymn might be. • Exclusive interviews with leading scholars on Stoicism, • A Free Chapter from The Obstacle is the Way. Genre: Philosophy. And canst thou take a bath unless the wood undergoes a change? http://classics.mit.edu/Antoninus/meditations.html. It is highly recommended you first read the Hays translation. The whole damn thing translated by a Victorian Briton into language reminiscent of the King James Bible. Death overshadows you. Because we can accommodate and adapt. He reminds us that all of us will die, however, we only ever lose the present moment because that is all we ever have. Marcus Aurelius himself wrote very deprecatingly about "women" as a category, and yet his mentions of individual women (such as those in his family) tended to be quite appreciative. Rather than judge and be disturbed by others, which sets us up for disappointment and distress, we ought to focus on self-improvement. Marcus’s writing also makes a prominent appearance in Steinbeck’s East of Eden, in John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty, and of course many people know Marcus Aurelius from the popular film Gladiator, where he is the old and wise emperor at the beginning of the film played by Richard Harris. The fact that Marcus goes to the same themes illustrates how much of Stoicism is essentially journaling and going over the same ideas. With 700,000+ posts and 16,000,000+ comments archived, and new Red Pill content being added every week, keeping TheRedArchive alive and discoverable to everyone is starting to become very costly. Designed to help you cultivate strength, insight, and wisdom to live your best life. In the final decade of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ life he wrote a series of personal philosophies intended for himself; these would later be published as Meditations. The Long translation (which is extremely common) is in King James Bible era English, so nice if you are accustomed to wisdom being presented in such language (for example if you were raised going to an Anglican church), but most modern people seem to find it irritating, and some find if very difficult to understand. Being superior to pain and pleasure allows us to fully accept the course of nature and focus on being virtuous.

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