Meditations By Marcus Aurelius Notes Dump

Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.

1) When you encounter unkindness

Very few people can continue unkindness when u react with kindness to them consistently

The noblest kind of retribution is not to become like your enemy

2) Everything depends on how you interpret it

3) Your mind should sit superior to your body and its sensations

Do not let pain drowsiness , fever , loss of appetite [ to alter your behavior ] . When you are bothered by things like that , remind yourself : I am giving in to pain.

If you return to your principles and the worship of reason, you may appear a god to those who thought you were a beast or baboon ( in 10 days )

4) Stay mindful and take deliberate actions

No random actions , none not based on underlying principles.

5) Don’t retreat from the world.

6) Your opinion of yourself matters more than the opinion of a stranger.

‘ It never ceases to amaze me : we all love ourselves more than other people , but care more about their opinion than our own. ‘

‘ fame in a world like this is worthless ‘

7) Be open to correction

Changing your mind is a free and noble act.  Accept correction , not succumb to peer pressure

8) Cherish the freedom and liberty of everyone

‘ Fight to be the person philosophy made you ‘

9 ) Have some self respect

Do not view anything beneficial , if it causes you to break a promise , lose your self-respect ( dirty work ) or hate anyone

10 ) Avoid Complaining

‘ Don’t be overheard complaining , not even to YOURSELF ‘

11 ) Obstacle is the way

12 ) Adversity is part of nature

13 ) It’s through adversity that we get stronger.

Adversity is opportunity to get stronger

‘ It’s fortunate that this has happened and I’ve remained unharmed by it -‘

14 ) Everything has happened before

15 ) Stay practical and deal with what’s in front of you

‘ If you seek tranquility , do fewer things , better’

16 ) Focus on doing what is right and be prepared to face resistance

‘ If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it ‘

‘ A king’s part : Do good and be reviled ‘

17 ) Do your duty and despise cowardice

18) Life is short and death comes to us all. That means that time for action is now

‘ Decide ONCE and for ALL  ( principles ) to pursue justice , honesty , courage , self-control and rational action above all else ‘

‘ Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death overshadows you. While you’re alive and able – be good “

19) Practice getting back on track

‘ Not to feel exasperated , or defeated , or despondent because your days aren’t’ packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail , to celebrate behaving like a human – however imperfectly – and fully embrace the pursuit that you’ve embarked on.

20) Look beneath to see things for what they truly are

‘  this noble vintage is grape juice, and the purple robes are sheep wool dyed with shellfish blood’

‘ Do you wish to be praised by a man who curses himself three times every hour? Do you wish to please a man who doesn’t’ please himself? ‘

21 ) Recognize material wealth is neither a good nor an evil

Possessing too many things can make life worse.

‘ Treat what you don’t have as non existent. Look at what you have , the things you value most , and think of how much you’d crave them if you didnt have them. But be careful. Don’t feel such satisfaction that you start to overvalue them – that it would upset you to lose them ‘

22 ) Express gratitude

‘ The recognition that I needed to train and discipline my character ‘

‘ Not to be constantly correct people ‘

‘ To stop talking about what the good man is like, and just be one.. ‘