Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

180

January, 2024

9/10

Meditations begins with a simple acknowledgement of the people in Aurelius's life and what he is grateful of them for. And despite its simplicity, the mere ideas that Aurelius acknowledges embody his proper approach to life. For example, he gives thanks to qualities like not growing angry, being clear and direct, being able to take people at face-value, and so on. Such simple acknowledgements lay profound foundations.

The book immediately begins with a very simple approach to life which becomes a very common theme: everything "is what it is," do good because that is human, be good because that is human, and make the most of life.

Much of the book is about taking responsibility and action as expressed in 5.16, 5.29, and 10.3:

The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.

If the smoke makes me cough, I can leave. What's so hard about that?

If it's endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining.

The clarity and directness of Aurelius's writing is what makes it good. He states everything matter-of-factly with ideas that are simply impossible to disagree with: “Be a good person.” “Care about others.” “Don't be a fool.” Who could disagree?

The one issue I have with the book is that the very idea of happiness is left alone. Yes, many of the ideas may lead to happiness, but no attention is ever given to the idea itself. Rather, Aurelius almost dismisses it. “Live, endure, accept,” seems to be the motto. What about being happy? What about feeling and expressing? These are important — human — ideas that I personally feel are key to a “successful” life.

In any case, Meditations is worth a lot of thought. It is a condensed lesson on being good and kind.