Love nothing but that which comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny. For what could more aptly fit your needs?
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (7.57)
Tag: Marcus Aurelius
In your power at all times and places there lies a pious acceptance of the day’s happenings, a just dealing towards the day’s associates, and a scrupulous attention to the day’s impressions, lest any of them gain an entrance unverified.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (7.54)
Stoic, cognitive psychotherapist, trainer and writer Donald Robertson has a new book out in April. If you took part in the recent Stoic Week event, you’ll recognise him and his voice from the introductory webinar and recorded exercises.
In How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, Robertson combines historical biography, stoic philosophy and cognitive behavioural therapy. The result promises to be an effective, hands-on guide to applying stoicism in everyday life.
Continue reading “How to Think Like a Roman Emperor – @DonJRobertson”
‘All born of earth must unto earth return;
All growths of heav’nly seed to heav’n revert.’– by the disintegration, that is, of their atomic structure and the dispersion of their uncaring elements.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (7.50)
I confess, I’m a latecomer to the classics of Ancient Greece and Rome. I loved the Greek (and Norse) myths as a kid, but I’d not really read any original work until maybe 10 or 15 years ago.
By pure chance, I started with Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations. There was no better place to start; relevant, accessible and blessedly short. I’m still pitifully under-read, but I’ve since enjoyed Aristotle, Homer, Seneca and Epictetus.
Suitably “born-again”, I now think everyone should read some ancient classics. But, why bother? The Art of Manliness blog has a persuasive essay, here.
To that, I would just add my own three reasons.
Fix your thoughts closely on what is being said, and let your mind enter fully into what is being done, and into what is doing it.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (7.30)
Do away with all fancies. Cease to be passion’s puppet. Limit time to the present. Lear to recognise every experience for what it is, whether it be your own or another’s.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (7.29)
Whatever the world may say or do, my part is to keep myself good; just as a gold piece, or an emerald, or a purple robe insists perpetually, ‘Whatever the world may say or do, my part is to remain an emerald and keep my colour true.’
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (7.15)
An empty pageant; a stage play; flocks of sheep, herds of cattle; a tussle of spearmen; a bone flung among a pack of curs; a crumb tossed into a pond of fish; ants, loaded and labouring; mice, scared and scampering; puppets, jerking on their strings – that is life. In the midst of it all you must take your stand, good-temperedly and without disdain, yet always aware that a man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambition.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (7.3)
When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it.
Marcus Aurelius (AD 120 – 180), Meditations (6.11)