It is the framing we put on reality. “And above all, that it accepts death in a cheerful spirit, as nothing but the dissolution of the elements from which each living thing is composed.”. According to the historians, Marcus had a circle of long-standing friends who loved him very dearly, and based on his surviving correspondence that seems easy to imagine. A series of short audio commentaries on one of the classic texts of Stoicism, The emperor Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. I’m not so sure that you need that darker interpretation, but it certainly gets the point across. Marcus Aurelius died on March 17, 180. Born in 121 CE and educated extensively in rhetoric and philosophy, Marcus Aurelius succeeded his... 2. With this deterministic view of nature, anything that happens is advancing the larger design. Marcus Aurelius, however, is not … His mother, Domitia Lucilla was a noblewoman, heiress to one of the largest brickwork factory in Rome. As I read the book — the 2002 translation by Gregory Hays — I set aside my favorite quotes so that I could regularly reconnect with them and strive to live my best life. This basically means that Stoics cherish and take delight in their own ability to live consistently in accord with reason, not without passion, but unimpeded by passion. He was one of the most important proponents of Stoicism, a philosophy that emphasizes self-improvement. http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002Q2WSPA, Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Marcus not only thinks about these qualities, though, but takes time to write them down. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (/ ɔː ˈ r iː l i ə s / ə-REE-lee-əs; Latin: [ˈmaːrkʊs̠ au̯ˈreːlijʊs̠ an̪t̪oːˈniːnʊs̠]; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. For nothing delights so much as the examples of the virtues, when they are exhibited in the morals of those who live with us and present themselves in abundance, as far as is possible. He did this by nature and also by learned practices, all the way from his youth to his dying breath: “Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. And maybe they are, or at least it might be useful to sometimes give our life that much importance — knowing that everything you do matters by definition brings meaning into your life. Nobody is perfect, yourself included. Aurelius,Epictetus, andSenecaall wrote vast amounts onthis subject, proving it to be one ofStoicism’sessential principles. I’ll give you an example. Until their memory, passed from one to another like a candle flame, gutters and goes out.”. Many people assume that ancient Stoic philosophers such as the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius were a grave and joyless lot. Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile back. When we are busy and distracted by the external world, we often get caught up in things and forget the big picture. When talking about the famous dead emperors that came before him, Marcus says this: “Everything fades so quickly, turns into legend, and soon oblivion covers it.”. But the tension keeps us honest and keeps us on a good path. In fact, Marcus was deeply moved by the suffering of the people. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth." 'Marcus Aurelius'Marcus Annius Verus(AD 121 - AD 180) Marcus Annius Verus was born at Rome on 26 April AD 121. Marcus Aurelius died on March 17, 180. It’s easy to succumb to self-pity when we start telling ourselves that we lack certain talents, that we miss stuff that seems to come so easily to other people. They might seem like contradictory conclusions, but I think the tension is deliberate and wise. Be content to seem what you really are. It was prescribed for you, and it pertains to you. Here Marcus gives us a very different perspective from our aforementioned quote. I am uncomfortable with believing in a bearded man in the sky named God. Elsewhere, he says that a good person is one who “loves and welcomes all that happens to him” and preserves the guardian spirit within him throughout life “in cheerful serenity, and following God” (3.16). These follow a threefold system of classification that runs through The Meditations, dividing our attitudes into those concerning (i) our own self, (ii) other people , and (iii) the events which befall us, throughout life. That’s largely how we learn philosophy in the first place, after all. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. I hope that the process of writing this will deepen my understanding of them, and I hope that sharing it with others with help to spread this profound and practical wisdom. Write on Medium, I bought a home at 17 — don’t worry, this isn’t going where you think it is, The Most Effective Way To Launch Into Action and Achieve Your Goals in Life, The Paradox of Freedom and Human Identity. His son Commodus became emperor and soon ended the northern military efforts. Marcus actually lists three main sources of such joy in Stoicism. Elsewhere, Marcus similarly says that our rational nature finds peace of mind in contemplating its own virtuous actions (7.28). — Meditations, 7.27. Such advice coming from a Roman emperor is like a lottery winner telling you that money didn’t end up bringing them happiness and inner peace. The way that the Stoics talk about change is very similar to the Buddhist teachings I’ve studied. "It is but Nature's way; and in the ways of Nature there is no evil to be found." Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices. Fate. The Stoics want us to view all such external goods as on loan temporarily from Nature. (8.43). It was always going to happen to you, and it is part of the path you take to grow. Get what you can from the present – thoughtfully, justly. The goal is to maintain an objective approach to thinking — to see things in a dispassionate way without getting caught up in stories and loops of negative thinking. “Doctors keep their scalpels and other instruments handy, for emergencies. We can actually see direct evidence of this as the warmth of his affection for them truly shines forth in the private letters which survive between Marcus and his rhetoric tutor, and family friend, Fronto — such the charming letter Marcus sent Fronto on his birthday, for example. Following the above quote, Marcus elaborates about the nature of change: “If it doesn’t hurt the individual elements to change continually into one another, why are people afraid of all of them changing and separating? We’ll look at it and I’ll say, “Well, how many ounces of gold is an acre worth right now?” And they’ll say, “Well, maybe 5, 6, 7 ounces of gold. Discover +14 Answers from experts : “Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do is smile back” - Marcus Aurelius. Learn more, Follow the writers, publications, and topics that matter to you, and you’ll see them on your homepage and in your inbox. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for—the things I was brought into the world to do? The thread was spun long ago, by the oldest cause of all.”. If you have seen truly where the matter lies, then leave behind your reputation and be content even... 3. Moreover, he does so by “living a simple, modest, and cheerful life”, free from anger, and accepting of his fate (3.16). 5. His father, Marcus Annius Verus III was a politician and a nobleman. Death, therefore, is part of Nature's plan and anything that occurs in nature is inherently not evil, but good. But this has to be balanced with humility towards how small a role you actually play. Here, expert and undiscovered voices alike dive into the heart of any topic and bring new ideas to the surface. Learn about this ancient philosophy of life and how it's still relevant in the 21st century. Sometimes it’s helpful to point to the influence of Socrates upon Stoicism, therefore, in order to dispel the myth that Stoicism is about being cold-hearted or poker faced. The tension between life principles is what keeps us balanced. [2] Turn The Other Cheek “God did not intend my happiness to rest with someone else.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations. Marcus is saying that if the gods do exist, they would care for us and not involve us in anything bad, and if they do not exist we should question whether or not it is even worth living … But Stoicism reminds us that death is simply logical and we should accept it. (2:17). We are to enjoy external things, that is, without attachment to them. So what would a cheerful philosophy of life look like according to the Stoics? As Marcus wrote to himself, Keep your philosophy ready too — ready to understand heaven and earth.”. Is the attribution of this quote to Marcus Aurelius correct? Things are born from change and things die from change. And that’s what you’re doing when you complain: hacking and destroying.”. By signing up, you will create a Medium account if you don’t already have one. Marcus Aurelius - Marcus Aurelius - The Meditations: A more intimate contact with the thoughts pursued by Marcus during the troubling involvements of his reign, though not what would have been historically most valuable, his day-to-day political thoughts, can be acquired by reading the Meditations. And once you have faith in the overall goodness of the logos, you can accept anything that happens to you. So at times, go ahead and think of yourself as the most important part of the universe. Meditations is not really a book, but more of a loose collection of Marcus’s personal writings. Historians generally count Marcus Aurelius as the last of the series of good emperors. Marcus became Emperor himself in AD 161, initially alongside Lucius Verus, becoming sole Emperor in AD 169. In fact, the Historia Augusta tells us that, despite his “serious and dignified” bearing as emperor, Marcus was “without gloom” and known for his pleasant and genial nature. Classical musician, passionate meditator, and co-host of the podcast and blog Exploring Kodawari. He died on March 17, 180. Marcus Aurelius (r. A.D. 161-180) was a Stoic philosopher and one of the five good Roman emperors (r. A.D. 161-180). Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (/ ɔː ˈ r iː l i ə s / ə-REE-lee-əs; Latin: [ˈmaːrkʊs̠ au̯ˈreːlijʊs̠ an̪t̪oːˈniːnʊs̠]; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. There are 3 excuses for him. Marcus Aurelius. As he tackles the big life questions, he will often reach very different conclusions. You are aiming at something higher. How brief and fleeting your allotment of it. Marcus Aurelius was born in 121 C.E.. His early education was overseen by the Emperor Hadrian, and he was later adopted by the Emperor Antoninus Pius in 138 C.E.. After an initial education in rhetoric undertaken by Fronto, Marcus later abandoned it in favor of philosophy. The simple answer is that it’s a path to less stress. Or is this what I was created for? T Marcus consistently reminds us not to confuse these two layers. It gave a framing for the large scale determinism of the universe while also giving practical advice on how to live. Well, from fear and desire, or excessive attachment to external things. Niebuhr calls him the noblest ch… I love this last quote. ― Marcus Aurelius. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices. It’s not about blocking emotions. The extent to which he intended it to be seen by others is uncertain. His Stoic philosophical writings are known as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, which were written in Greek. This is part of nature, part of the logos. 44. Check your inboxMedium sent you an email at to complete your subscription. Natural causes . Marcus Aurelius, followed about the year of our Lord 161, a man of nature more stern and severe; and, although in study of philosophy and in civil government no less commendable, yet, toward the Christians sharp and fierce; by whom was moved the fourth persecution. That’s really what life is about: being the best you can be in order to serve others. How tiny your share of it. If he acknowledges that he is one and is accused of nothing else, then whoever arraigns him should be burned alive. https://exploringkodawari.blog/, Stories providing creative, innovative, and sustainable changes to the ways we learn, Medium is an open platform where 170 million readers come to find insightful and dynamic thinking. Check your inboxMedium sent you an email at to complete your subscription. This is what these quotes from Mediations do for me; they constantly remind me to reconnect with the deep life principles that I know to be true but often neglect. Later in Book Four, he says that “there is nothing nature loves more than to alter what exists and make new things like it”. While the other four did a lot for Rome, Marcus Aurelius stands out the most in the self-improvement world.His book — Meditations — gives us the opportunity to glimpse into the mind of an influential Roman Emporer and to understand how he thought. Although Marcus draws on many philosophical traditions throughout the book, the most central one is Stoicism. Hence we must keep them before us. In doing so, we experience both the presence of something and its absence at the same time — we’re anticipating that one day it will be gone. It will help you take things seriously and succeed. Considering that Marcus was a famous emperor, there’s something particularly beautiful and cutting about his writings on fame, happiness, and death. 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. That is something to be proud of before you die. This is what people today tend to call Stoic amor fati, or love of one’s fate. Have faith in the logos and the part you play in it. From the zoomed out Stoic perspective, you are no longer getting caught up in the petty details of it all. What role did Marcus Aurelius play in these persecutions? I sometimes like to think of it as the force from Star Wars. But being too optimistic can leave you crushed when reality inevitably disappoints. The theme here is to think deeply before you complain. This particular quote comes from the end of Book 2, but the temporary nature of everything is a recurring theme throughout Meditations. For years we have instructed clients and helped clients. It comes from our internal framing of the externals — the inner story we tell ourselves about things. So caring about fame misses the point. As it happens, Socrates was by far and away the Stoics’ favorite role-model. You will die, as will all the people who might possibly remember and praise you. So the universe will seem to screw you over, and other people’s stupidity and malevolence will screw you over as well. By signing up, you will create a Medium account if you don’t already have one. 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