9 MINUTE READ

“Meditations”, Marcus Aurelius

Print length: 304 pages. Buy on Amazon.

Perfect for you if:

You wonder what kind of books Presidents and World Leaders keep by their sides.

You’re looking for new tools and practices to build into your daily life.

You’re new to Stoicism or “Meditations” is one of your favourite books.

“Meditations” is a collection of personal notes written by the author, Marcus Aurelius, to himself. These notes were never intended for publication and had two purposes:

To define for himself a life philosophy and ideal character worthy of aspiring to.

As an integral part of his struggle to live up to those two things.

In the process, Aurelius touches on some universal truths. Truths that still resonate with us almost two thousand years later.

The insights themselves are remarkable and inspiring but not unique. Instead, the power of “Meditations” is in both “Who” the author is and “How” they are written.

Who: Marcus Aurelius (121 – 180 AD) served as Roman Emperor from 161 – 180 AD. This is the age of the Imperial Cult. Roman emperors are divinely sanctioned authorities with almost limitless power and wealth. What’s more, Aurelius spent half (10 years) of his rule in brutal wars to defend the empire’s borders. Either factor was enough to drive many emperors to tyranny or madness – often both. Yet Aurelius’s humility and objectivity is staggering. He constantly reminds himself of his own mortality, insignificance and fallibility.

How: Just as impressive are the vulnerability, eloquence and pragmatism of Aurelius’s writing. It is philosophy without being philosophical. It is as accessible, quotable and practical. You can feel Aurelius’s struggle to make sense of the world around him. He repeatedly assaults the same themes, reframing them over and over. His striving reminds us that we all face the same journey though life, no matter who we are.

As a finished product Aurelius’s “Meditations” help us most obviously in two ways. They are:

As a long-term compass . An ideal that can point us in the right direction when we feel lost.

. An ideal that can point us in the right direction when we feel lost. As a source of short term of inspiration. Providing reassurance, guidance and strength when most needed.

But the most important lessons from “Meditations” are not “What” but “How”. They are the daily practices we can bring into our own lives. Practices that help us define our own ideal and work through the obstacles to achieving it.

I bought several translations of “Meditations”. Many are free. The one linked above is not. It is, however, the best I have found. Gregory Hays keeps his translation as faithful to Aurelius’s original “Meditations” as he can. What’s more, he does so using clear and modern language that is easy and enjoyable to read. His introduction also gives fantastic context of the “Who” and “When” behind the work.

This crunch has three sections: Major Themes, Values to Live By and Practices to Start Today.

Major Themes

Aurelius revisits several themes throughout the “Meditations”. These include:

Impermanence : Aurelius reflects frequently on mortality. Human life is ephemeral and fleeting. Even the memory of it fades. Striving for fame or immortality in this life or after it is vain and futile. Instead, seize the present moment.

: Aurelius reflects frequently on mortality. Human life is ephemeral and fleeting. Even the memory of it fades. Striving for fame or immortality in this life or after it is vain and futile. Instead, seize the present moment. Cyclicality : Human nature stages the same play over and over through time and space – only the actors change. In particular, nature and its cycles of growth and decay are at the heart of many of Aurelius’s analogies.

: Human nature stages the same play over and over through time and space – only the actors change. In particular, nature and its cycles of growth and decay are at the heart of many of Aurelius’s analogies. Fate/Causality : Like stoicism, Aurelius’s take is one of Compatibilism (also known as soft-determinism). Our path is fated but we can choose to go with the flow or be dragged along with it (to the same end). Aurelius spends some time exploring this idea in the context of acceptance and resignation to external events (que sera sera). Disclaimer: this is a simplification – see Google for more detail.

: Like stoicism, Aurelius’s take is one of Compatibilism (also known as soft-determinism). Our path is fated but we can choose to go with the flow or be dragged along with it (to the same end). Aurelius spends some time exploring this idea in the context of acceptance and resignation to external events (que sera sera). Disclaimer: this is a simplification – see Google for more detail. Mindfulness : Perception begins with attention in the present moment to both the internal and the external. We cannot own the past or the future so it is pointless striving to hold on to them. Mindfulness also applies internally to our emotions and patterns of thought and behaviour. It is the first step in achieving…

: Perception begins with attention in the present moment to both the internal and the external. We cannot own the past or the future so it is pointless striving to hold on to them. Mindfulness also applies internally to our emotions and patterns of thought and behaviour. It is the first step in achieving… Objectivity : A position we believe to be objective is often already intertwined with our reactions and beliefs. Making good decisions means identifying and separating raw perception from interpretation. This struggle is a frequent topic of interest for Aurelius. I would argue that each of the “Meditations” is itself an attempt to return to a place of greater objectivity.

: A position we believe to be objective is often already intertwined with our reactions and beliefs. Making good decisions means identifying and separating raw perception from interpretation. This struggle is a frequent topic of interest for Aurelius. I would argue that each of the “Meditations” is itself an attempt to return to a place of greater objectivity. Equality : Human nature is universal. We are all subject to the same drives and temptations. Aurelius reflects that under the same conditions, he is just as capable of any failing that he has observed in another. This insight is the foundation of understanding and patience.

: Human nature is universal. We are all subject to the same drives and temptations. Aurelius reflects that under the same conditions, he is just as capable of any failing that he has observed in another. This insight is the foundation of understanding and patience. Hierarchy : All men may be the same but that doesn’t make them equal. 10 – 15% of the Roman population have been estimated to be slaves. Aurelius draws several analogies to reconcile his views on equality with the hierarchical reality of the Rome he ruled (sun vs. rain, captain vs. crew, doctor vs. patient).

: All men may be the same but that doesn’t make them equal. 10 – 15% of the Roman population have been estimated to be slaves. Aurelius draws several analogies to reconcile his views on equality with the hierarchical reality of the Rome he ruled (sun vs. rain, captain vs. crew, doctor vs. patient). Civic duty / Justice: Aurelius does not believe in universal and inalienable human rights. He often reflects on the need for each citizen (including himself) to act for the good of the whole, even at individual cost. This view is more similar to a contemporary Chinese than American ideal.

Values to Live By

Throughout “Meditations” Aurelius lays out several values that he strived to live by.

They make for an inspiring read and a worthy goal for anyone to aspire to:

Balanced / moderate : opposed to extreme views and actions (especially in politics or religion)

: opposed to extreme views and actions (especially in politics or religion) Humble : having a modest estimate of one’s importance, accepting one’s own fallibility

: having a modest estimate of one’s importance, accepting one’s own fallibility Simple : doing only what is necessary, speaking clearly

: doing only what is necessary, speaking clearly Austere : not requiring comforts or luxuries; having a plain and unadorned appearance

: not requiring comforts or luxuries; having a plain and unadorned appearance Accepting : receiving people and happenings as they are without striving against them

: receiving people and happenings as they are without striving against them Open : receptiveness to change or new ideas, especially in letting go of ones current beliefs

: receptiveness to change or new ideas, especially in letting go of ones current beliefs Diligent (esp. in planning): having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties

having or showing care and conscientiousness in one’s work or duties Energetic : showing or involving great activity or vitality

: showing or involving great activity or vitality Persistent : not giving up in the face of adversity, however great

: not giving up in the face of adversity, however great Patient : able to accept delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious

: able to accept delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious Pragmatic : dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

: dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations Mindful : consciously aware of internal and external circumstances in the present moment.

: consciously aware of internal and external circumstances in the present moment. Purposeful : having or showing determination or resolve towards a defined purpose

: having or showing determination or resolve towards a defined purpose Having integrity : the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles Dispassionate (esp. in pain, in anger) : not influenced by strong emotion, and so able to be rational and impartial

: not influenced by strong emotion, and so able to be rational and impartial Silent (in thought, word and deed) : ‘being’ over ‘doing’ or ‘having’, patience to observe clearly before acting, knowing when not to act at all and not drawing attention to oneself by ones actions

: ‘being’ over ‘doing’ or ‘having’, patience to observe clearly before acting, knowing when not to act at all and not drawing attention to oneself by ones actions Rational : based on or in accordance with reason or logic

: based on or in accordance with reason or logic Cooperative : open and willing to be of assistance in working towards a common goal, working as part of a team

: open and willing to be of assistance in working towards a common goal, working as part of a team Forgiving: feeling no anger about or not wishing to punish offences, flaws or mistakes

Disclaimer: Defining values is a tricky business. These definitions combine dictionaries with my own interpretation of “Meditations” (and inevitable biases). I’m very open to improvements and suggestions.

Practices to Start Today

Referring to “Meditations” is like looking up answers in a textbook. It might let us know where we’re heading. It might even help us through a particular problem. What it won’t do is teach us to solve those problems by ourselves. For that, there’s no substitute for rolling up our sleeves each day and getting our hands dirty.

The most valuable things Aurelius gives us in his “Meditations” are not the answers. They are the tools that he used to solve the problems he faced. Like Aurelius, anyone can pick up those tools and learn to use them. Anyone can break and hone them, day-in-day-out against the challenges they face. We might not reach Aurelius’s level of mastery. We might not even come close. But we can all get closer.

Further Reading

“Letters from a Stoic”, Seneca – the original blog on Stoicism. Seneca’s letters to his friends are full of good, practical advice. His thinking and writing would come to influence Aurelius some 100 years later.

“Discourses and Selected Writings”, Epictetus – A bit harder to read than other books on this list but an excellent primer on all things Stoic.

“Man’s Search for Meaning”, Viktor Frankl. One of the greatest books of the modern age. Short, readable and powerful. Its insights are as profound as its subject matter is heart breaking. You can find my book crunch here.

“The Obstacle is the Way”, Ryan Holiday – Holiday is the most prolific and outspoken of the 21st Century’s “New Stoics”. “Meditations” is one of his top books and Aurelius’s fingerprints are all over his work. His books are both readable and powerful – this one is a good place to start.

The Daily Stoic, blog – one of today’s best source for all information related to Stoicism.

Meditations Quotes

These Meditations quotes come from TANQ – The Art of Living‘s growing central library of thoughts, anecdotes, notes, and quotes.

The happiness of those who want to be popular depends on others; the happiness of those who seek pleasure fluctuates with moods outside their control; but the happiness of the wise grows out of their own free acts. — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“Do external things distract you? Then make time for yourself to learn something worthwhile; stop letting yourself be pulled in all directions.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“You need to avoid certain things in your train of thought: everything random, everything irrelevant. And certainly everything self-important or malicious.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“Never regard something as doing you good if it makes you betray a trust, or lose your sense of shame, or makes you show hatred, suspicion, ill will, or hypocrisy, or a desire for things best done behind closed doors.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“Forget everything else. Keep hold of this alone and remember it: Each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already or is impossible to see.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“Nothing is so conducive to spiritual growth as this capacity for logical and accurate analysis of everything that happens to us.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the colour of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“True good fortune is what you make for yourself. Good fortune: good character, good intentions, and good actions.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their minds.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations

“It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.” — Marcus Aurelius , Meditations