By all accounts, Second Century Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius never intended his private journal to be made public. Aurelius kept a journal throughout his life, recording his philosophical musings. Others collected and published his writings centuries after the Emperor's death.
Aurelius presents most of his thoughts concisely in a few sentences but occasionally expands an idea beyond a whole page.
Many of the ideas presented in the book are repeated later with variations in the words - not surprisingly, since this was originally a journal. By observing topics to which the author returns most often, we can find some significant themes in his writings, such as:
- Life is short. Make the most of it.
- Contribute to the world
- Favor reason over emotion
- The words and actions of others cannot hurt me. I have control over my emotions and feelings
- Do not tie your self-worth to the praise of others
Aurelius speaks often about the interconnectedness of all things in the universe, a concept he calls "the whole."
He voices the philosophy of stoicism - the idea that a well-lived life is sufficient to make one happy.
Here are a few of the quotes that resonated with me:
- "No more roundabout discussion about what makes a good man. Be one!"
- "If it is not right, don't do it; if it is not true, don't say it."
- "You should leave another's wrong where it lies." - an interesting concept for an emperor.
- "You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."
- "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."
- "When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love."
Although "Meditations" contains only a few pages, it took me a long time to read. I gained the most when I stopped after each paragraph to ponder how it applies to my life. The author also references several historical figures with whom I am unfamiliar. The edition I read contained a lengthy appendix that provided this context but also slowed my velocity.
"Meditations" is a good read with some simple, thought-provoking advice that is still relevant today.