Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (referred to as “the wise”) was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 161 to his death in 180. He was the last of the “Five Good Emperors”, and is also one of the more important Stoic philosophers. His two decades as emperor were marked by near continual warfare. Marcus Aurelius’ great work called Meditations was written by Marcus in Greek, not Latin. He wrote this journal while on campaign between 170 and 180. Marcus wrote to himself; his goal was to reflect upon his own life and remind himself of his own life-challenges as a Stoic; it appears as if he did not intend his journal to be read by others. It continues to be revered as a literary monument and has been read and savored by hundreds of thousands of people. Marcus’ Meditations provide us a deep insight into both a human being who was striving to live a certain way (the Stoic way) and into an Emperor who at that time was the most powerful man in the Roman world. Today I quote again from Book 9. Marcus writes:
Do not see death as a hindrance, but accept it, since even death is something that Nature wishes. For just like youth, old age, growth, maturity, the growing of teeth, beard, and gray hair, conception, pregnancy and birth, and all the other activities of Nature which the seasons of life bring — so too is dissolution a natural process. It therefore corresponds to what we are as being possessed of Reason not to be rash, violent, or arrogant toward death but to await it as one of Nature’s processes. And just as you await the time when the child comes forth from your wife’s womb, in the same way you should welcome the hour when your soul emerges from its shell.
He who acts wrongly harms himself. If a person commits an injustice, he acts badly toward himself, thus making himself bad.
Very often an unjust act is done by NOT doing something, not only by doing something.
Searcher-Seeker 
Leave a Reply