10 philosophical life lessons from "Meditations"
A book by Marcus Aurelius
=Thread=
A book by Marcus Aurelius
=Thread=
“I am dying, Maximus. When a man sees his end, he wants to know there was some purpose to his life. How will the world speak my name in years to come? Will I be known as the philosopher? The warrior? The tyrant? Or will I be the emperor who gave Rome back her true self?”
It was a cut from Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic historical film “Gladiator”
The old man is Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor (161 to 180 AD) and a philosopher.
He was the last of the rulers known as the “Five Good Emperors”, and the last emperor of the golden age of the Roman empire.
The old man is Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor (161 to 180 AD) and a philosopher.
He was the last of the rulers known as the “Five Good Emperors”, and the last emperor of the golden age of the Roman empire.
His book “Meditations” is the only document of its kind.
The private thoughts of the world's most powerful man giving himself advice on how to make better work on his responsibilities.
These are 10 of the major wisdom that we take from Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations”:
The private thoughts of the world's most powerful man giving himself advice on how to make better work on his responsibilities.
These are 10 of the major wisdom that we take from Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations”:
1. Be a good character, rather than wondering how to be it
“Don’t go on discussing what a good person should be. Just be one.”
Thinking about how to be good can distract us from the fact that it is the little, everyday acts that build the goodness within us.
“Don’t go on discussing what a good person should be. Just be one.”
Thinking about how to be good can distract us from the fact that it is the little, everyday acts that build the goodness within us.
2. The Evil That Men Do Harms You Only if You Do Evil in Response
Forget what other people are doing, forget what they’re doing wrong.
Keep your eyes on yourself.
Focus on yourself.
Fix yourself.
Forget what other people are doing, forget what they’re doing wrong.
Keep your eyes on yourself.
Focus on yourself.
Fix yourself.
3. Be grateful for what you have
Stop resenting what you don’t have and be grateful for what you do have. It is simply a privilege to be alive.
We are very lucky to be conscious, to have friends, to have hobbies, and to be loved by others.
Stop resenting what you don’t have and be grateful for what you do have. It is simply a privilege to be alive.
We are very lucky to be conscious, to have friends, to have hobbies, and to be loved by others.
4. Remember death to stop worrying about what people think
Do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life.
“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you say and think.”
Concentrate every minute like a "Roman".
Do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life.
“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you say and think.”
Concentrate every minute like a "Roman".
5. The Universe is Change
Everything in the world should constantly change into new things.
Don’t be afraid of change.
Change that comes from your within can only make you better.
Everything in the world should constantly change into new things.
Don’t be afraid of change.
Change that comes from your within can only make you better.
6. Embrace the Obstacles to Grow Your Inner Fire.
Aurelius believed humans do not thrive when life is too easy.
Embrace challenges; they are good for the human soul.
"What stands in the way becomes the way."
Aurelius believed humans do not thrive when life is too easy.
Embrace challenges; they are good for the human soul.
"What stands in the way becomes the way."
7. Problems are Created in the Mind
Don’t let events make you worse people; you are never truly harmed by them.
“Choose not to be harmed, and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed, and you haven’t been.”
Don’t let events make you worse people; you are never truly harmed by them.
“Choose not to be harmed, and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed, and you haven’t been.”
8. Think Less About Past and Future Because Your Life Only Happens In The Present
The past already happened.
The future has not yet happened.
All we have is the present.
“Each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already, or is impossible to see”
The past already happened.
The future has not yet happened.
All we have is the present.
“Each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already, or is impossible to see”
9. Your Rational Mind is Your Greatest Asset
Our ability to reason is what sets us apart and is an important power that we must use to the fullest.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
Our ability to reason is what sets us apart and is an important power that we must use to the fullest.
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
10. Live only and completely in the present
“Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.”
We cannot change the past.
We should not dwell on past events, and we should not overly concern ourselves with what may happen in the future.
“Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.”
We cannot change the past.
We should not dwell on past events, and we should not overly concern ourselves with what may happen in the future.
“Meditations” is a book of actionable advice.
Billionaires like Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates demonstrate the ancient philosophy of Marcus Aurelius.
You can't read this book and not come away with a line that will be helpful to you the next time you are in trouble.
Billionaires like Elon Musk, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates demonstrate the ancient philosophy of Marcus Aurelius.
You can't read this book and not come away with a line that will be helpful to you the next time you are in trouble.
Start reading 100 mental models
With books, cards, maps, quotes, audiobook... it will internalize mental models in your head in a way that you will use them automatically
It includes "Meditation" + 50 of the best books in history for FREE
Get your copy:
gumroad.com/a/485553267/Ax…
With books, cards, maps, quotes, audiobook... it will internalize mental models in your head in a way that you will use them automatically
It includes "Meditation" + 50 of the best books in history for FREE
Get your copy:
gumroad.com/a/485553267/Ax…
• Thank you for reading
• Please FOLLOW me (@wealth_director) to see more content like this in the future.
• Please retweet the first tweet of this thread so more people can see it:
• Please FOLLOW me (@wealth_director) to see more content like this in the future.
• Please retweet the first tweet of this thread so more people can see it:
https://twitter.com/wealth_director/status/1434838081664950276?s=20
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
