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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
challenging
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
does the sun try to do the rain’s work? or asclepius, demeter’s? and what about each of the stars— different, yet working in common?
no rating or judgement of the writing/topics, especially after finding out it was most likely his private journal. he felt alive when i read this, writing all this down, feels weird to close this book knowing that he’s actually long gone.
this is my first encounter with marcus aurelius, my first impression of him might be different than most. he held a lot of feelings, and for someone that got so fearful of the idea of death near the end of his life, he was truly trying to find his footing still as an emperor that was put in a hard situation with harsh responsibilities at way too young of an age. this caused him to be way harsher on himself and to me, distorted his idea of pleasure, yet still trying to be kind to the world.
it’s heartwarming to know he found his solace through writing and philosophy and his way of self-soothing, yet forever strange to know that these were meant to be his private thoughts.
how many people don’t even know your name. how many will soon have forgotten it.
even if i don’t necessarily agree with some of his views (and sadly that a lot of his ideals were adapted/skewed by podcast dudes), i got a bit emotional in parts.
since there are thoughts in this that i also consistently think of, the idea that people have been trying to make sense of reality for decades and centuries, even with totally different experiences? will get me.
beautiful things of any kind are beautiful in themselves and sufficient to themselves. is an emerald suddenly flawed if no one admires it?
not a stoic, nor do i relate to the philosophy, and i really think advertising this as philosophy is a disservice. it’s a piece of history that was almost lost to time.
“let him be only a man for once; for neither philosophy nor empire takes away natural feeling.” — antoninus pius
reflective
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
It is a book to return to when I feel reflective. How much of it is about the frailty of our lifestyle and how insignificant we are in the grand schemes of things.
It is a book to return to when I feel reflective. How much of it is about the frailty of our lifestyle and how insignificant we are in the grand schemes of things.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective