This eBook edition of "Meditations of Marcus Aurelius" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices."Meditations" is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from second century, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the Meditations as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. The Meditations is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Marcus' life. A central theme to Meditations is the importance of analyzing one's judgment of self and others and the development of a cosmic perspective. The style of writing that permeates the text is one that is simplified, straightforward, and perhaps reflecting Marcus' Stoic perspective on the text.
"Discourse no more of what a good man should be; but be one."
"Continually reflect that all that is happenning now happened exactly in the same way before; and reflect it will happen again. Place before your eyes all that you have ever known from your own experience or from ancient history; dramas and scenes... All these were similar , only the actors different."
Always apply reason and try to do the right thing. Act according to the virtues (practical) wisdom, justice, courage, and self-discipline. The results of your virtuous actions are not entirely up to you and therefore should not be the motive for the actions in the first place. Focus on what you can control, which is to act excellently in terms of your character.
The most appealing aspect of Stoicism is that we are responsible for our flourishing because all that truly matters in life is up to us. So the key lesson to take away here is to focus our attention and efforts where we have the most power and then let the universe take care of the rest.
When I was nineteen years old I was told to read a book : Meditations, by the stoic philosopher emperor Marcus Aurelius. Of course, I didn't fully understand it at the time, again I was a teenager, but I immediately tore the book apart and made a million notes on it .