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Meditations is a classical collection of writings by Marcus Aerelius, former emperor of the Roman Empire. Marcus‘ Meditations are commonly entwined to Stoicism, an ancient philosophy, and would be placed in the self-help section of any library. As I read further into the book, I increasingly find Marcus‘ reflections relevant to modern day life, although having lived nearly 2000 years ago.

He was very wise. He also comes across as a self-righteous prig.

Meditations is a collection of personal insights and observations written by Marcus Aurelius, former emperor of the Roman Empire. Although written between 170 and 180 AD, Meditations still has relevance today. Individual meditations explore themes and practices to improve oneself, and living a good life.

Went on vacation to Nashville, spent a day exploring the parks and smaller cities outside the metro area, almost literally drove into Duck River Books in Columbia, TN. Their Poetry/Classic Lit section is the first thing I saw walking in the door; I about dropped to my knees.

Oh, I found a couple books too.

"When you have done a good act and another has received it, why do you look for a third thing besides these, as fools do, either to have the reputation of having done a good act or to obtain a return?"
-Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"

"Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good."
-Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"

"Never value anything as profitable that compels you to break your promise, to lose your self-respect, to hate any man, to suspect, to curse, to act the hypocrite, to desire anything that needs walls and curtains..."
-Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"

Often, injustice lies in what you aren't doing, not only in what you are doing.

Stoicism defined with a good introduction about the background of Marcus

#ThinkPositiveBePositive @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Tus días están contados. Úsalos para abrir las ventanas de tu alma y que entre el sol

Happy July 🇺🇸
Book club selection for #feedyourmindbookclub 🌱Instagram #luisadoliveira #Meditations Marcus Aurelius

#ThinkPositiveBePositive @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I have a tendency to only want to rely on myself and I feel ashamed to ask for help. Today‘s entry reminded me how much happiness other members of my life bring me and that cutting them out is not helpful. Also, I really like the Marcus Aurelius quotes #mentalhealth

Boring Books for Bedtime a great podcast. Listening to this boring book tonight.

#QuotsyAug21 @TK-421
#Familiar

🪞 For nowhere either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul, particularly when he has within him such thoughts that by looking into them he is immediately in perfect tranquility.

⚖ The soul as a sphere in equilibrium: Not grasping at things beyond it or retreating inward. Not fragmenting outward, not sinking back on itself, but ablaze with light and looking at the truth, without and within.

#ThinkPositiveBePositive @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Marcus Aurelius said it best, "Don't just say you are going to be a good man, be one."

Purchased this as part of my Ancient Rome book-buying binge many years ago. I'm a Stoic at heart (though some who know me might say I'm a Cynic), so there's a lot to like here, not least the most powerful man on Earth cataloging his shortcomings, including suffering from panic attacks and being a mediocre lover. Still, now that I've passed 40 I've become a middle-age man who owns Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, which makes me feel like a cliche 😅

#QuotsyMar21 @TK-421
#Ambition

Did I mention that a pandemic is depressing? I finally sat down and finished [ Meditations ]. I've picked it up and “read out of“ it for years, but decided to actually read the whole thing.

I would not label myself as strictly Stoic or Epicurean, I find pieces of both to be helpful in life. This is one of my favorite books of Stoic philosophy.

Read in 2020.

"It is in our power to have no opinion about a thing."

- Chapter VI, Verse 52.

"Asia and Europe are corners of the universe; all the sea a drop in the universe; Athos a little clod of the universe; all present time is a point in eternity. All things are little, changeable, perishable."

- Chapter VI, Verse 36

One the occasion of the 1,841st anniversary of the death of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.

I couldn't grasp even 20% of this book ! Very tough read for me

#ThinkPositiveBePositive @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Andrew65

#Waste no more time arguing what a good person should be. Be one." ~ Marcus Aurelius

Tagging: @wanderinglynn @LibrarianKatie @RamsFan1963 @Nute

Start of my #CYOReadathon, which may/may not run til Sunday, depending on whether work reappears (I‘m very close to being totally over this freelancing malarkey 🥺)

My goal is to have less on my currently reading shelf at the end of the weekend. So I‘m starting with a bail. I still want to read this, but I‘m going to find myself a modern translation- this was George Long (1862). I‘m wading through the language rather than absorbing the content.

#62 of my year. Gonna read this while waiting for my other books to be delivered 🤓 lol

I can‘t choose three favorite books, but I can choose a few favorites. The older I get, some feelings towards books change and I grow appreciative of books I might not have loved when I was younger.
1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
2. The Name of the Rose
3. Frankenstein
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Sabriel
Rebecca
The Master and Margarita
@vivastory thanks for the tag! @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Tag if you want to play!

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.

Well written book by the Roman Emperor discussing stoicism. The prose is quite beautiful but often feels like sentimental drivel compared to Aristotle or Plato (the only other ancient philosophers I‘ve read). I read the book mainly because it seems to occupy an important place in the western canon and because I was interested in learning about stoicism. However I was unimpressed by the overly passive outlook that stoics have on the world.

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

Unemployed? Can‘t meditate but have a restless mind? Headspace is offering a free one year subscription to help.
https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/headspace-for-free/

#meditation #mentalhealth #shelterinplace

1. I loved to be read to at an early age and then probably by six or seven was reading because I loved it.
2. There are probably a lot that I should read and haven‘t yet. The tagged book is one that had an impact on me and one I want to return to again.
@TheSpineView
Would you like to share? @Reggie @Redwritinghood @Taotev

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

#Meditation #QuotsyMay20

I first passed this on Tuesday and have been trying to keep it in mind since. I‘ve been neglecting my Stoic philosophy lately and it‘s definitely been affecting my mental health.

I‘m now taking a walk each morning so I see this sign every day as a reminder.

I think it‘s time to pull out my Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus again soon.

Love to you all! Stay safe out there! ❤️

Stoicism might work if you could just think whatever you wanted; however, I find that we are constrained by our conscience to only think weighty things, and it is not right to just blather on about “the substance of the universe“ and so on, which Marcus Aurelius does all the time. What that means is that stoicism is not really philosophical since it doesn't participate in the discussion very well. But Marcus Aurelius does provide positive answers.

It's pretty cool to be driving to work while listening to the thoughts of a Roman emperor from almost two thousand years ago. I listened to this on Librivox and the narration quality was uneven and audio quality really poor with some narrators. Perhaps I'll buy this at a used bookstore someday and give it another shot. Maybe my experience will be better. As it stands, it was worth my time but not particularly memorable.

A brief summary of how to act with #integrity, from a very old and wise sage, that seems to need reinforcing these days #BeKind

#ReallyRandomFebruary
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

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🌾🌾🌾🌾 This was a great book to end 2019 with. There were a lot of good things in here although a few things I disagreed with (he kept telling me to not read so many books). It was also important to keep a bit of perspective. Yes, we should be happy with what we have but when that comes from a wealthy emperor who was probably rich, the advice misses the mark. Overall, I got a lot of of this book and highly recommended it.

“Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things that exist; observe, too, the continuous spinning of the thread and the contexture of the web.”

“Love the art, poor as it may be, that thou hast learned, and be content with it; and pass through the rest of life like one who has intrusted to the gods with his whole soul all that he has, making thyself neither the tyrant nor the slave of any man.”
👇🏼

“The universe is transformation; life is opinion.”

I like the brevity of this translation, though the meaning is, perhaps, a little clearer in this one:

“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”

"We must make haste then, not only because we are daily nearer death, but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease first."

Cheery soul, old Marcus!
And yet, while remembrance of death may at times be morbid, it can also be freeing and uplifting.

"Remember how long thou hast been putting off these things, & how often thou hast received an opportunity from the gods, & yet thou dost not use it. Thou must now at last perceive of what universe thou art a part, & of what administrator of the universe thy existence is an efflux, & that a limit of time is fixed for thee, which if thou dost not use for clearing away the clouds from thy mind, it will go & thou wilt go, & it will never return."