I like to read Meditations of Marcus Aurelius from time to time and I wish it would become a regular, maybe an annual habit. Each reading reveals new layers of wisdom, offering guidance during challenges and reinforcing the principles of resilience.
This book is not just a collection of wisdom but a tool that encourages deep reflection and broadens one's perspective on life’s most important matters. His reflections have influenced many modern thinkers and scholars, even if indirectly.
I have added Meditations to the library on the website, where you can find a summary and my favorite quotes.
Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, likely wrote Meditations as personal notes rather than for an audience. This gives it a raw authenticity, making it feel as though we are listening to his unfiltered thoughts.
Composed in Greek during his military campaigns, the work emphasizes core Stoic principles, which he distills into three fundamental disciplines: the disciplines of perception, of action and of the will.
“Objective judgment, now, at this very moment. Unselfish action, now, at this very moment. Willing acceptance – now, at this very moment – of all external events. That’s all you need.”
The Discipline of Perception
The discipline of perception requires that we maintain absolute objectivity of thought and judgment. We need to be able to remove emotions from judgment. The objects and events are not the problem but the interpretations we place on them.
“You ability to control your thoughts – treat it with respect… The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes the colour of your thoughts.”
Modern cognitive science echoes this ancient wisdom. Daniel Kahneman in Thinking Fast and Slow, explores cognitive biases and arrives at similar conclusions.
He demonstrates how our minds rely on intuitive, often flawed judgments, and how overcoming these biases requires deliberate effort—an idea deeply aligned with Marcus Aurelius’ call for disciplined perception. Both emphasize the need for conscious awareness in shaping thought and decision-making, though Kahneman focuses on cognitive science while Aurelius approaches it through philosophical reflection. The most reliable way to overcome the mind’s traps is through emotional control—a timeless truth supported by modern cognitive science.
The Discipline of Action
The discipline of action relates to the purpose of life. As human beings we are part of nature, and our duty is to accommodate ourselves to its demands and requirements. It means that we should perform as best as we can the functions assigned to us in the master plan of the larger, cosmic logos. Marcus repeats all over again, that we are made for others not for ourselves and our nature is fundamentally unselfish. Our actions should be therefore directed towards collective good. His views on keeping that unselfish purpose are strong and a repetitive theme in the book. We should only work towards proper understanding, unselfish action, truthful speech.
“People who labor all their lives but have no purpose to direct every thought and impulse toward are wasting their time – even when hard at work.”
Viktor Frankl in Man's Search for Meaning also links human happiness to purpose, although his view is more liberal.
While Marcus Aurelius sees duty as the sole worthy pursuit, Frankl expands the notion of purpose to include love and personal experiences. While this may seem harsh, it reflects the realities of the era in which Marcus lived—a time of war and hardship where duty defined existence.
The Discipline of Will
The discipline of will relates to things outside our control. We control our actions and are responsible for them. Things outside our control have no ability to harm us, If we maintain the right mindset. Acts of wrongdoing by another human harm this human not the victim.
"And why should we feel anger at the world? As if the world would notice!”
This philosophy aligns with the foundation of resilience: reality acceptance. Without the ability to accept what lies beyond our control, no further steps toward resilience are possible.
Applying Stoicism in Modern Life
Meditations remains a timeless and surprisingly relevant work. I recommend reading it slowly, absorbing the spirit of this relentless philosopher-emperor. Applying his teachings is no easy feat—detaching from emotions in judgment, committing to unselfish action, and accepting what is beyond control all require persistent effort.
Yet, in doing so, one cultivates a mindset of resilience and wisdom, proving that Stoic philosophy remains a powerful tool for modern life. Stoic philosophy aligns closely with resilient thinking at an individual level—offering simple yet profoundly challenging principles that, if applied, promise a life of strength and wisdom.
How different would our lives be if we truly embraced these principles? Perhaps the only way to know is to begin the practice today...
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