Book Review: Meditations; Marcus Aurelius
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Timeless lessons from Roman Emperor to live a meaningful life
GENRE Philosophy, Classics, Self-Help
AUTHOR Marcus Aurelius
PAGES 254
YEAR OF PUBLISH 1944
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marcus Aurelius ruled as Roman sovereign from 161 to 180 CE and is most popular as the remainder of the Five Good Emperors of Rome (following Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius) and as the creator of the philosophical work Meditations. Marcus Aurelius was trained in Greek from his early childhood and his work "Meditations" was also written in the same. He wrote "Meditations" in his late thirties and was never meant for publication. The Emperor gained the title of philosopher after his death.
WHAT IS STOICISM
The literal meaning of Stoicism is the endurance of pain or hardship without displaying feelings or complaints. Additionally, it is described as a member of the school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Athens. Stoicism is practiced and promoted by many great leaders like president Theodore Roosevelt. It is said that President Bill Clinton carries Meditations all the time with him.
The interesting thing about Stoicism is that most of the people who are practicing it are not aware of it. Taking the case of the author's work Meditations, it was merely a journal. Later, people comprehended his work and inferred it in the line of Stoicism.
BOOK REVIEW MEDITATIONS; MARCUS AURELIUS
Even though Stoicism was a celebrated philosophy there is no work quite like Meditations in Greek or Latin literature. It is unique in the sense that author Marcus Aurellis address himself. This is the personal journal of one of the greatest emperors of the Roman Empire written during his reign and military campaigns. The fact was enough to grab my attention.
Readers who can dive deep enough will appreciate the philosophy expressed in poetic passages. At times, they may struggle to comprehend, but the Penguin Classic edition is supported with layman explanation-not sure about other publications. It came in quite handy for me. People who reach out to this book expecting hardness and severity of stoic won't be disappointed. In the first, a deep and hardwon acceptance of the cycle of birth, growth, and decay -revealing the beauty of every stage of life.
Nevertheless, the most sustained analogy to be encountered in the meditations is the discovery of Macrocosm and Microcosm. The microcosm–macrocosm relationship defines the similarity between the human being (the microcosm, i.e. little universe) and the universe as an entirety (the cosmos. Given this principle similarity, truths approximately the nature of the universe as an entirety may be induced from truths approximately human nature, and bad habit versa.
To sum up, Meditations is a profoundly thought-provoking book. It consists of twelve short books on the principles and philosophies of living a virtuous life, cherishing the present, and looking within. It is razor-sharp with its principles on purposeful actions and thoughts. This book has changed my views about life, the way I view people, problems, pain, and pleasure. It teaches patience, resilience, and the power of indifference.
TOP 10 QUOTES FROM MEDITATIONS; MARCUS AURELIUS
- The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.
- It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgments concerning them.
- To live a good life: We have the potential for it. If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference
- The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.
- Life is short. That’s all there is to say. Get what you can from the present – thoughtfully, justly.
- Be content to see what you really are.
- Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.
- How soon will time cover all things, and how many it has covered already.
- Each of us needs what nature gives us when nature gives it.
- Nothing natural is evil.
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