25 Wisdoms from Marcus Aurelius.
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"The questions that the 'Meditations' tries to answer are primarily metaphysical and ethical ones: Why are we here? How should we live our lives? How can we ensure that we do what is right? How can we protect ourselves against the stresses and pressures of daily life?"
— G. Hays
— G. Hays
1. Fate
"He does only what is his to do, and considers constantly what the world has in store for him—doing his best, and trusting that all is for the best. For we carry our fate with us —and it carries us." — Marcus Aurelius
"He does only what is his to do, and considers constantly what the world has in store for him—doing his best, and trusting that all is for the best. For we carry our fate with us —and it carries us." — Marcus Aurelius
2. Harmony
"For there is a single harmony. Just as the world forms a single body comprising all bodies, so fate forms a single purpose, comprising all purposes." — Marcus Aurelius
"For there is a single harmony. Just as the world forms a single body comprising all bodies, so fate forms a single purpose, comprising all purposes." — Marcus Aurelius
3. Perspective
"To watch the courses of the stars as if you revolved with them. To keep constantly in mind how the elements alter into one another. Thoughts like this wash off the mud of life below." — Marcus Aurelius
"To watch the courses of the stars as if you revolved with them. To keep constantly in mind how the elements alter into one another. Thoughts like this wash off the mud of life below." — Marcus Aurelius
4. Nature & nature
"The others obey their own lead, follow their own impulses. Don’t be distracted. Keep walking. Follow your own nature, and follow Nature—along the road they share." — Marcus Aurelius
"The others obey their own lead, follow their own impulses. Don’t be distracted. Keep walking. Follow your own nature, and follow Nature—along the road they share." — Marcus Aurelius
5. The World Within
"People try to get away from it all—to the country, to the beach, to the mountains ... You can get away from it anytime you like. By going within. Nowhere you can go is more peaceful—more free of interruptions—than your own soul." — Marcus Aurelius
"People try to get away from it all—to the country, to the beach, to the mountains ... You can get away from it anytime you like. By going within. Nowhere you can go is more peaceful—more free of interruptions—than your own soul." — Marcus Aurelius
6. Interconnectedness
"What injures the hive injures the bee." — Marcus Aurelius
"What injures the hive injures the bee." — Marcus Aurelius
7. Transience
"In short, know this: Human lives are brief and trivial. Yesterday a blob of semen; tomorrow embalming fluid, ash." — Marcus Aurelius
"In short, know this: Human lives are brief and trivial. Yesterday a blob of semen; tomorrow embalming fluid, ash." — Marcus Aurelius
8. Good & Evil
"I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own—not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine." — Marcus Aurelius
"I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own—not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine." — Marcus Aurelius
9. Purpose
"People who labor all their lives but have no purpose to direct every thought and impulse toward are wasting their time—even when hard at work." — Marcus Aurelius
"People who labor all their lives but have no purpose to direct every thought and impulse toward are wasting their time—even when hard at work." — Marcus Aurelius
10. Being Human
"At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: 'I have to go to work—as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for— the things I was brought into the world to do?'" — Marcus Aurelius
"At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: 'I have to go to work—as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for— the things I was brought into the world to do?'" — Marcus Aurelius
11. Self Love
"You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you. People who love what they do wear themselves down doing it, they even forget to wash or eat." — Marcus Aurelius
"You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you. People who love what they do wear themselves down doing it, they even forget to wash or eat." — Marcus Aurelius
12. Character
"It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character. Otherwise it cannot harm you—inside or out." — Marcus Aurelius
"It can ruin your life only if it ruins your character. Otherwise it cannot harm you—inside or out." — Marcus Aurelius
13. The Art of Thinking
"The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts." — Marcus Aurelius
"The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts." — Marcus Aurelius
14. The Mind
"The mind without passions is a fortress. No place is more secure. Once we take refuge there we are safe forever. Not to see this is ignorance. To see it and not seek safety means misery." — Marcus Aurelius
"The mind without passions is a fortress. No place is more secure. Once we take refuge there we are safe forever. Not to see this is ignorance. To see it and not seek safety means misery." — Marcus Aurelius
15. Choice
"Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed and you haven’t been." — Marcus Aurelius
"Choose not to be harmed—and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed and you haven’t been." — Marcus Aurelius
16. The Power of Now
"Objective judgment, now, at this very moment. Unselfish action, now, at this very moment. Willing acceptance—now, at this very moment—of all external events. That’s all you need." — Marcus Aurelius
"Objective judgment, now, at this very moment. Unselfish action, now, at this very moment. Willing acceptance—now, at this very moment—of all external events. That’s all you need." — Marcus Aurelius
17. External Events
"External things are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now." — Marcus Aurelius
"External things are not the problem. It’s your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now." — Marcus Aurelius
18. Action
"For every action, ask: How does it affect me? Could I change my mind about it? But soon I’ll be dead, and the slate’s empty. So this is the only question: Is it the action of a responsible being, part of society, and subject to the same decrees as God?" — M. Aurelius
"For every action, ask: How does it affect me? Could I change my mind about it? But soon I’ll be dead, and the slate’s empty. So this is the only question: Is it the action of a responsible being, part of society, and subject to the same decrees as God?" — M. Aurelius
19. The Good Person
"Stop talking about what the good man is like, and just be one." — Marcus Aurelius
"Stop talking about what the good man is like, and just be one." — Marcus Aurelius
20. Simplicity
"You see how few things you have to do to live a satisfying and reverent life? If you can manage this, that’s all even the gods can ask of you." — Marcus Aurelius
"You see how few things you have to do to live a satisfying and reverent life? If you can manage this, that’s all even the gods can ask of you." — Marcus Aurelius
21. Essentialism
"'If you seek tranquillity, do less.' ... Do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, 'Is this necessary?'" — Marcus Aurelius
"'If you seek tranquillity, do less.' ... Do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, 'Is this necessary?'" — Marcus Aurelius
22. The Obstacle is the Way
"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." — Marcus Aurelius
"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." — Marcus Aurelius
23. History Repeats
"Bear in mind constantly that all of this has happened before. And will happen again—the same plot from beginning to end, the identical staging … All just the same. Only the people different." — Marcus Aurelius
"Bear in mind constantly that all of this has happened before. And will happen again—the same plot from beginning to end, the identical staging … All just the same. Only the people different." — Marcus Aurelius
24. The Art of Living
"Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly." — Marcus Aurelius
"Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly." — Marcus Aurelius
25. Don't Forget
"Don’t ever forget these things: The nature of the world. My nature. How I relate to the world. What proportion of it I make up. That you are part of nature, and no one can prevent you from speaking and acting in harmony with it, always." — Marcus Aurelius
"Don’t ever forget these things: The nature of the world. My nature. How I relate to the world. What proportion of it I make up. That you are part of nature, and no one can prevent you from speaking and acting in harmony with it, always." — Marcus Aurelius
How to Live a Good Life according to “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius (Book Summary)
- Common Humanity
- How to Live the Good Life
- Training the Mind & Thoughts
- Fear, Anxiety, & Anger
- Fulfillment & Happiness
- Time & Death
- & More
sloww.co/meditations-ma…
- Common Humanity
- How to Live the Good Life
- Training the Mind & Thoughts
- Fear, Anxiety, & Anger
- Fulfillment & Happiness
- Time & Death
- & More
sloww.co/meditations-ma…
More from “Meditations” by Marcus Aurelius:
- 40 Top Quotes
- 7 Deep Questions
- 15 Lists to Remember
sloww.co/marcus-aureliu…
- 40 Top Quotes
- 7 Deep Questions
- 15 Lists to Remember
sloww.co/marcus-aureliu…
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