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My thoughts about 

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius' Meditations is a must read for every man.  His Meditations were never meant to be published, they were just supposed to be for him.  Yet somehow they survived the centuries and now guys like me get to read them and continue to learn from them.  Below are some of my thoughts about what he has written and how I apply the lessons to my own life.  

Marcus and his wolves.jpg

Marcus Aurelius

Book One

It turns out that Marcus and I have a lot in common.  In Book One Marcus lists all the things he is thankful for and from whom he's gotten those qualities.  I have listed the things him and I have in common, but not the people from whom I've received those gifts:
 

  • Good character and resistance to anger

  • Modesty and manfulness

  • Piety, generosity and an aversion to wrongdoing

  • Frugality 

  • Spend lavishly on education

  • Endure discomfort and need little

  • Do my own work and not meddle in the affairs of others

  • Reject slander

  • Shun purposeless pursuits

  • Disbelieve magic; follow the science

  • Tolerate free speech of others

  • Make philosophy my home

  • See the other side of the argument

  • My moral character needs nurturing

  • Get off the soapbox

  • Don’t be a showoff

  • Write and speak to be understood

  • Don’t hold grudges

  • Read with attention and don’t be satisfied with the gist of what has been written

  • Have a steadfast disposition

  • Don’t snap at people

  • Accept favour without feeling compromised or disregarding them (because I would do the same for them)

  • Benevolence

  • Live in accordance with nature

  • Dignity without pretension

  • Patience with the uneducated and the thoughtlessly credulous

  • Geniality with everyone

  • The discovery and deployment of the principles essential to living a human life

  • Contain anger and other passions

  • Don’t nitpick

  • Don’t jump on outright errors of others

  • Absolute rule comes with malice

  • Don’t be too busy for other people

  • Don’t try to get out of things by saying “I’m too busy.”

  • Be open to feedback

  • Restore relationships

  • Show heartfelt affection to my children

  • Love your family, truth and justice

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  • Live up to the expectations you have of others ( --> but don’t expect others to live up to your expectations)

  • A steady and zealous devotion to philosophy

  • Warm generosity, optimism and confidence in the love of friends.

  • Live a life of service, and act for the good of others

  • self -mastery and a focus invulnerable to distraction

  • Good cheer in all circumstances even in illness

  • A model of a well-balanced character, dignified and kind

  • Performance of task at hand without complaint

  • A confidence earned from others that one is sincere in all one says and benevolent in all one does.  

  • Beneficence, forgiveness and sincerity

  • A sense of humour

  • A mild temper, and an unwavering commitment to decisions made after long deliberation.

  • An absence of vainglory

  • Industry and perseverance

  • A sense of when to be firm and when to be accommodating

  • Respect the people in one’s community

  • Be a dedicated friend but don’t expect your friends to travel to see you

  • Single minded focus and a knack for asking incisive questions at meetings.

  • Cheerfulness 

  • Do not flatter or be flattered

  • Only accept feedback from someone you’d go to for advice

  • Do not be superstitious

  • Do not be a man people call a sophist, a fraud or a pedant

  • Be seen as seasoned, accomplished and incorruptible

  • Enjoy the gifts of life while you have them, but maintain the humility not to miss them when they’re gone

  • Approachability and jocularity

  • Pay enough attention to your body so as not to need medical attention

  • Return to work with enthusiastic vigor after a leave of absence

  • Keep secrets that are for the public good

  • Go to bed on time

  • Accept an apology with grace

  • Do not be irritable, harsh or impetuous → Don’t get worked up into a lather

  • Resolve, persistence and sobriety, come what may.  

  • I have been born into a good family and have good friends

  • My children were born healthy and happy

  • I have met many impressive people and have had a lot of good teachers (in school and out)

  • My body works the way it is supposed to (most of the time anyway)

  • My parents love me deeply

  • I am able to help my friends, especially with my time and energy

  • “That my wife is exactly as she is, so obliging, so loving and so unaffected.”

Book Two

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