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autumndream's review against another edition
5.0
Memorable Quote:
"The value of attentiveness varies in proportion to its object. You're better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve" ~Marcus Aurelius
"The value of attentiveness varies in proportion to its object. You're better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve" ~Marcus Aurelius
guts_'s review against another edition
5.0
Meditations consists of practical advice for navigating interpersonal relationships in everyday life, overcoming our fear of death, and many, many more nuggets of wisdom that are still relevant to this day. One reoccurring theme that particularly stuck out to me was the idea that the good life consists of acting in accordance with our nature as civic and rational beings. Humans are intrinsically embedded in the world and in a community and what is good for the community is good for the individual because reason reveals to us that we are part of a greater whole not atomic units in a vacuum.
As but a small part of a greater whole what fate has decided for an us should be graciously accepted for it was necessarily woven in the intricate tapestry of the universe since the beginning of time. Our part in the play is small and fleeting and without reason the whole is unknown and seemingly unjust to us: "Think of the totality of all Being, and what a mite of it is yours; think of all Time, and the brief fleeting instant of it that is allotted to yourself; think of Destiny, and how puny a part of it you are.".
I feel as though I got much out of this book but think I will return to this work after reading more stoic philosophy.
As but a small part of a greater whole what fate has decided for an us should be graciously accepted for it was necessarily woven in the intricate tapestry of the universe since the beginning of time. Our part in the play is small and fleeting and without reason the whole is unknown and seemingly unjust to us: "Think of the totality of all Being, and what a mite of it is yours; think of all Time, and the brief fleeting instant of it that is allotted to yourself; think of Destiny, and how puny a part of it you are.".
I feel as though I got much out of this book but think I will return to this work after reading more stoic philosophy.
ampere_exe's review against another edition
5.0
Meditations made me think of the world in a way that I hadn't looked at it before. It is no short of masterful in that it made me a kinder, logical, and more resilient person.
brakian's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Tons of quotable oneliners, but ultimately stoicism gets tiresome.
jmm's review against another edition
5.0
The only downside of having read this book is that its original publication date really messes up my goodreads "Profile > Stats > Publication Year" graph
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
There was a time when to emphasize the importance the fiscal correction by goverment to resolve short term crisis, Keynes said "In the long term, we are all dead." That answered all classical economicsts who suggested that market can heal itself in long run.
Aurelius might have said this "In long term, we are all dead" but to argue that thus nothing matters. There are many other ideas but this stoicism is probably the one you are most likely to remember. That said, his stoicism isn't averse to action but just to do what can be done and avoid needless worrying. Although personally I think worrying is more an emotional and irrational matter - you can't just reason your worrying heart to any consolation.
I read somewhere that it is easier for someone like him to philosphise - being a king and all, but to be honest, I think being a king probably makes it difficult to live by such philosphies. I have to wonder how come he wasn't usurped given how easily he desires to forgive others. Power is a jealous mistress, it rarely resides long enough with someone who doesn't desire it for itself, and isn't willing to compromise on their values to retain it.
Aurelius might have said this "In long term, we are all dead" but to argue that thus nothing matters. There are many other ideas but this stoicism is probably the one you are most likely to remember. That said, his stoicism isn't averse to action but just to do what can be done and avoid needless worrying. Although personally I think worrying is more an emotional and irrational matter - you can't just reason your worrying heart to any consolation.
I read somewhere that it is easier for someone like him to philosphise - being a king and all, but to be honest, I think being a king probably makes it difficult to live by such philosphies. I have to wonder how come he wasn't usurped given how easily he desires to forgive others. Power is a jealous mistress, it rarely resides long enough with someone who doesn't desire it for itself, and isn't willing to compromise on their values to retain it.