ANCIENT ROMAN

LITERATURE:
MEDITATIONS BY
MARCUS AURELIUS

OU P 2
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MARCUS AURELIUS

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who tried to live out his philosophy of life. He
was known to have written many notable quotes about his day-to-day, discursive,
fragmentary political thoughts in Greek in untitled writings that came to be known as his
12-volume "Meditations."
 MEDITATIONS BY MARCUS AURELIUS

1 contains “notes to himself” 2 the record of a person 3 Ernst Renan described

whose principles were Meditations by Marcus
noble, who had a warm Aurelius as “a gospel for
love of humankind, and those who do not believe
who had a philosophy in the supernatural".
similar to religion
STOICISM

is an ancient philosophy that was once one of the most popular civic disciplines in
1
the West and a tool in the pursuit of self-mastery, perseverance, and wisdom.

An important aspect of Stoicism involves improving the individual’s ethical and

1
moral well-being by having a will which is in agreement with Nature, and by
practicing the four cardinal virtues (derived from the teachings of Plato): wisdom ,
courage, justice and temperance.
 BIG TAKEAWAYS
Death is an inevitable factor of life and one that should not be feared.

Marcus Aurelius adopts a theme of the “transience of human life”. This is an attribute not only of
the Stoic philosophy, but also of Marcus’ character. Death is never far away—something that must
be accepted as part of the cycle of life, not to be feared or despaired of, but to be embraced:

·“Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over
you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.” (translation from
goodreads, n.d.)
 BIG TAKEAWAYS
The concept of Logos covers the destiny and working of every living and
non-living thing – be content with it.

The stoics believed in the unwavering conviction that the world is organized in a
rational and coherent way. More specifically, it is controlled and directed by an all-
pervading force that the Stoics designated as logos.

·. “No one can keep you from living as your nature requires. Nothing can happen to you that is not
required by Nature.” (6.58)
 BIG TAKEAWAYS
It is useless to complain, wasting the short time we have in this world

Marcus Aurelius hated holding court, but he knew he shouldn’t spend even a second regretting his
duties. Instead, he trusted in the grand scheme of things, knowing that logos had a plan for him, and
there will be moments where his part in the plan was to let people waste his time with superficial
arguments and small talk in court.

·“People try to get away from it all—to the country, to the beach, to the mountains. You always wish that
you could too. Which is idiotic: you can get away from it anytime you like. By going within. Nowhere
you can go is more peaceful—more free of interruptions—than your own soul.” (4.3)
 BIG TAKEAWAYS
Logic and reason are the highest order of thinking

Logical and analytical thinking are the highest form of thinking. It is believed that is how the
Logos judges and thinks as well. Marcus Aurelius also believed that everything happens for a
reason. Always. Even in the worst of times, he took comfort in the fact that everything is
exactly as it’s supposed to be.

·“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.” (9.6)
 BIG TAKEAWAYS
There is only one kind of pain in this world – the pain we inflict on ourselves.

Marcus Aurelius believed that physical pain was part of logos’ big plan. He was convinced that
things happen for good reason, trusted in the purpose, and thus remained calm even in the worst of
times.Moreover, he believed that humans suffer pain when they do not have faith in the higher
judgment of Logos.

·“It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their
opinion than our own.” (translation from Juma, 2019)
SUMMARY

Meditations gives us an overview of one great Roman king’s ruminations on

death, life, and justice as well as the nature of the world, and why things happen
the way they do. It shows how to become more self disciplined, stop caring
what people think, and withstand life's emotional storms.
SHORT QUIZ
 1. Who wrote Meditations?

2. It is an ancient philosophy that was once one of the most popular

civic disciplines in the West and a tool in the pursuit of self-mastery,
perseverance, and wisdom.

3. It is an inevitable factor of life and one that should not be feared.

 4.These are the highest order of thinking.

5. Marcus Aurelius was known for his 12-volume of?

6.He described Meditations by Marcus Aurelius as “a gospel for those who do not
believe in the supernatural".

7. Marcus Aurelius also believed that everything happens for a?

8. Write our subject teacher's full name.

9. Write our subject code including the section.

10. Say "PASA TA YA SA EXAM!" Altogether.

ANSWER KEY
• Marcus Aurelius
• Stoicism
• Death
• Logic and Reason
• Meditations
• Ernst Renan
• Reason
• Leofer Fernando
• AHE 111 - CPE3
• Bonus