Post: #1

We all like this forum for a variety of reasons. The colorful characters, the great resources of information, the support and positive outlook shared by most, the debates (when they don't devolve into petty bickering) but what I find the most helpful is the giving and receiving of advice.

I've been on the road traveling or camping or away from home now for about 6 weeks.

One of the books I've been reading at night is "The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius "

It's fascinating because he was the Emperor of Rome, which basically meant the known world. He wrote these little notes or thoughts to himself so he could go back and remind himself of how he wanted to act. If you think about all the plotting, criticism, false friends, ungrateful people, then you have to think this man had to deal with quite a bit, and I can tell when I read these thoughts, that he felt he was falling short sometimes and that is why he felt the need to write them.

He was a stoic philosophically which more or less meant that he thought that whatever happened, he could deal with it and overcome.

But one meditation that struck me as being particularly useful was his reflection that the key to happiness was having a well ordered mind.

Which brings me to my point, giving advice (and receiving it) helps to order the mind. It puts those general sentiments on a subject into an articulated thought, and that is very useful.

Some other, but not all, thoughts that I liked:

"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”
― Marcus Aurelius

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

“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
― Marcus Aurelius

“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.”
― Marcus Aurelius

“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.”
― Marcus Aurelius

“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”
― Marcus Aurelius

“Regain your senses, call yourself back, and once again wake up. Now that you realize that only dreams were troubling you, view this 'reality' as you view your dreams.”
― Marcus Aurelius

“Whatever anyone does or says, I must be emerald and keep my colour.”
― Marcus Aurelius

“Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

“When another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, penetrate inside and see what sort of people they are. You will realize that there is no need to be racked with anxiety that they should hold any particular opinion about you.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

“So you know how things stand. Now forget what they think of you. Be satisfied if you can live the rest of your life, however short, as your nature demands. Focus on that, and don't let anything distract you. You've wandered all over and finally realized that you never found what you were after: how to live. Not in syllogisms, not in money, or fame, or self-indulgence. Nowhere.”
― Marcus Aurelius

“It is in your power to withdraw yourself whenever you desire. Perfect tranquility within consists in the good ordering of the mind,-- the realm of your own.”
― Marcus Aurelius

They go on and on, these reflections, and some are very negative, they are his personal thoughts, but they are fascinating to me.

Post: #2

Good post. I bought Meditations a while back and didn't really read much of it.

This inspired me to pick it up again.

I have always been fascinated by Roman history. I think it's interesting how someone of his stature and in his position thought.

Quote:“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
― Marcus Aurelius

That's a very good one. I've started to understand what this means recently.

If you fail make an effort to see things positively then the inevitable consequence is that you slide into negativity and only rationalise ways why you can't do things.

Post: #3

Good post.

I heard somewhere that this book was Bill Clinton's book he would read before going to bed at night.

I am assuming on nights when he wasn't swooping girls.

Post: #4

Maybe it's arrogance but there were times when I was reading and I thought "I know exactly what he means".

He talks a lot about keeping his soul colored "emerald" and I think he's talking about his overall attitude and outlook and it's affects on himself. I believe he was in a constant battle with himself over these destructive or negative thoughts.

Post: #5

I love this. Thanks for the great post and great quotes.

Post: #6

Good stuff Fisto. Aurelius was the one in Gladiator (not important or historically correct). However homeboy Marcus was also one of the LAST (might have been THE last one, I cant remember) truly great emperors of Rome before pretty much everything went to shit, and was a member of the Golden Age of Emperors (mostly a group of guys who sought to make the empire smaller and maintain good care of it, instead of expanding it like crazy and spending cash exorbitantly and starting some wars). Good stuff to think about and so true, the mind has a vastly powerful effect on our outcomes-whatever your struggles be gentlemen. In the mind is where your outcomes will be created-whether you think positive or negative is ultimately up to you and your actions. You can strengthen them, or poison them with what you do. (And oh, I can only WONDER what the hell it would be like to be a Roman solider in one of those BIG a$$ battles back then. Be pretty bada$$ shit to see, especially the naval ones or against Hannibal)

Good hunting gentlemen

Post: #7

Good shit...

Post: #8

My dad gave me this book a while ago when I was always angry and lost . His dad gave him too for the same reason . It's a book you read just a few pages at the time .It's a book who give you some clue in rough time with an exterior perspective and it really help .I really like the '' hommage'' to his entourage at the begining.

Post: #9

I highly recommend Seneca, especially if you like Marcus Aurelius. Also, as a bit of shameless promotion, you might find this useful:

http://taoofdirt.wordpress.com/category/letters/

Post: #10

(07-16-2012 09:23 PM)IpsaScientiaPotestasEst Wrote:  Good stuff Fisto. Aurelius was the one in Gladiator (not important or historically correct). However homeboy Marcus was also one of the LAST (might have been THE last one, I cant remember) truly great emperors of Rome before pretty much everything went to shit, and was a member of the Golden Age of Emperors (mostly a group of guys who sought to make the empire smaller and maintain good care of it, instead of expanding it like crazy and spending cash exorbitantly and starting some wars). Good stuff to think about and so true, the mind has a vastly powerful effect on our outcomes-whatever your struggles be gentlemen. In the mind is where your outcomes will be created-whether you think positive or negative is ultimately up to you and your actions. You can strengthen them, or poison them with what you do. (And oh, I can only WONDER what the hell it would be like to be a Roman solider in one of those BIG a$$ battles back then. Be pretty bada$$ shit to see, especially the naval ones or against Hannibal)

Good hunting gentlemen

One of his reflections says something along the lines of "Look at the fate of past civilizations and you will see yours"

Nowadays most people are talking about the fall of the U.S. in the same context as Rome so it's interesting you say that about him being one of the last great leaders.