Meditations LXXVIII

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“What a small portion of vast and infinite eternity it is, that is allowed unto every one of us, and how soon it vanishes.”

This seems like an appropriate quote upon which to end this series on the "Meditations" of Marcus Aurelius. Make the most of your "small portion of vast and infinite eternity"!

On to Kurt Vonnegut's "Player Piano"!

Meditations LXXVII

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“Happiness in life consists of this: for a man to know thoroughly the true nature of everything; what is the matter, and what is the form of it: with all his heart and soul, ever to do that which is just, and to speak the truth. What then remains but to enjoy your life in a course and coherence of good actions?”

So blessedly simple! Understand correctly, do justly, and speak truthfully. A solid path to happiness!

Meditations LXXVI

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“If it be not fitting, do it not. If it be not true, speak it not. Ever maintain your own purpose and resolution free from all compulsion and necessity.”

Meditations LXXV

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“I have often wondered how it should come to pass, that every man loving himself best, should more regard other men’s opinions concerning himself than his own.”

Amen! Perhaps this is my observation because I work with teenagers, but I think many adults suffer from this malady as well. All too often, I see people place so much value in the opinion of people they don't even respect!

Meditations LXXIV

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“God beholds our minds and understandings, bare and naked from these material vessels, and outsides, and all earthly dross. For with His simple and pure understanding, He pierces into our inmost and purest parts.”

So often, ancient Romans are un-charitably characterized as pagans and poly-theists. While it's true that their socio-cultural structure had a poly-theistic fabric woven into it. There is so much evidence, as with this quote, that many educated Greeks and Romans believed that there was one uniting force or God to the universe. Food for thought...

Meditations LXXIII

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“To righteousness, in speaking the truth freely, and without ambiguity; and in doing all things justly and discreetly.”

Meditations LXXII

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“We should always observe with great care and heed the inclinations of our minds, that they may always be with their due restraint and reservation, always charitable.”

Civility first.

Meditations LXXI

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“Epictetus said, ‘Of the free will there is no thief or robber.’”

This is profound in its brevity. There is tremendous power in this statement, reminding us that no one can take our free will away from us. But with our free will comes great responsibility: to use it rightly, for good.

Meditations LXX

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“The Pythagoreans were wont betimes in the morning the first thing they did, to look up unto the heavens, to put themselves in mind of them who constantly and invariably did perform their task: as also to put themselves in mind of orderliness, or good order, and of purity, and of naked simplicity. For no star or planet has any cover before it.”

There is something remarkable about gazing at the stars, and it always helps me put things in perspective. It reminds me of my place in the "grand scheme of things". Cicero said, "If a man can look on the stars and not feel the power of God, I wonder whether is capable of any feeling at all."

Meditations LXIX

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“He that has not one and the self-same general end always as long as he lives, cannot possibly be one and the self-same man always.”

I always tell my students that the only way to make a difference in the world is to make a commitment to something. All true impact comes from committed individuals.

Meditations LXVIII

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":

“Meekness is a thing unconquerable, if it be true and natural, and not affected or hypocritical. For how shall even the most fierce and malicious that you conceive, be able to hold on against you, if you will still continue meek and loving unto him?”

Kill'em with kindness... Too often I have seen people try to meet hatred and anger with equal hatred and anger. These two fires only feed each other. The best way to throw cold water on such a situation is meekness. Many people wrongly think that meekness is weakness, but in truth, meekness always overcomes anger and hatred, and thus it is more powerful. This was the eternal message of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Meditations LXVII

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“Whether they have sinned or not, you do not understand perfectly. For many things are done by way of discreet policy; and generally a man must know many things things first, before he be able truly and judiciously to judge of another man’s action.”

So often, I can be quick to judge. I think there must be something in our human nature that disposes us to this tendency. But this quote is an excellent reminder to hold off judgement, because I often don't know all the facts of the situation, and even once I do know the facts, I'll never fully understand the inner dispositions of the person(s) involved.

Meditations LXVI

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“To live happily is an inward power of the soul.”

I was so excited when I read this. My best friend, Andrew, and I used to talk about this a lot. I firmly believe that the degree of happiness in our lives is determined more by our perspective and inner dispositions than by our circumstances. Of course, there are some circumstances that are beyond our control that can bring sorrow into our lives (e.g. the death of a loved one). But Andrew and I, long ago, observed that the source of most people's unhappiness in life was their own attitude and disposition toward their circumstances rather than the circumstances themselves.

I have tried, ever since, to remind myself often of this fact, and to approach the curve-balls of life with as positive an attitude as I can muster.

Meditations LXV

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“There is nothing more shameful than perfidious friendship.”

Meditation LXIV

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":

“From justice all other virtues have their existence. For justice cannot be preserved, if either we settle our minds and affections upon worldly things; or be apt to be deceived, or rash, and inconstant.”

As usual, Aurelius has offered succinct insight into his topic. The two primary enemies of justice are greed and ignorance.

Meditations LXIII

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“When you are offended with any man’s transgression, presently reflect upon yourself; and consider what you yourself are guilty of in the same kind.”

As Jesus said, "Remove the beam from your own eye before attempting to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Who among us has never committed a transgression? Aurelius' advice here is wise and humbling.

Meditations LXII

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“So live as indifferent to the world and all worldly objects, as one who lives by himself alone upon some desert hill.”

This is easier said than done. It fits nicely in line with Aurelius' stoic philosophy of detachment, but I question how practical it is for real living. I suppose there are some individuals who are able to live this way, and I'm sure there is something rewarding in it. But I wonder if perhaps the better message to take away from this is a more moderate one: understand the role worldly objects play in your life and your happiness (hopefully a minimal one) and recognize them for what they are: tools; without giving them too much power over you or your happiness.

On a joyous note, I have finished reading Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations", and will be posting the last 10-15 quotes over the next couple of weeks. I'm reading Kurt Vonnegut's "Player Piano" right now, and am getting a lot out of it. I think it'll be the next book I read analytically and share on the blog!

Cheers!

Meditations LXI

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“Many of those things that trouble and straiten you, it is in your power to cut off, as wholly depending from mere conceit and opinion; and then you will have room enough.”

There is much truth in this quote, that our dispositions are largely dependent upon our perspectives and our willingness to let go of things. I often tell my students that learning to live well (to live happily) is the art of learning to let go.

Meditations LX

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“And how many there are, who never so much as heard of your name, how many that will soon forget it; how many who but even now did commend you, but who within a very little while perchance will speak ill of you. So that neither fame, nor honour, nor anything else that this world offers, is worth the while.”

This is a little extreme for my taste: "nothing this world offers is worth the while"? I wonder if he wasn't near death when he wrote this. It seems decidedly more pessimistic than the rest of this text. I think there are things in this life which the world offers us which are worth pursuing and having. But I think we have to be on guard not to let those things dominate and rule our lives.

Meditations LIX

From Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations":


“As things were in the days of those whom we have buried, so are they now also, and no otherwise.”

Some quotes require no commentary.