THE MEDITATIONS (Marcus Aurelius, Roman, c. 161-180 CE?)
Not just any old writer, Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor, counted among the "Five Good Emperors." He wrote down his thoughts while actively leading the empire; much of his book is believed to have been written while he was out in the field, making decisions about a military campaign. He was a Stoic philosopher, believing one should live a good life in accordance with nature, aligning one's decisions with the way things are. This was considered "virtue." Marcus was a "philosopher king," and The Meditations are worth reading over and over.
- Marcus wrote: "If you are troubled by any external thing, it is not the thing that disturbs you, but your own attitude toward it. And it is in your power to change this attitude now."
- And: "Is a cucumber bitter? Throw it away. Are there briars in the road? Turn aside from them. This is enough. Do not add, 'And why were such things made in the world?'"
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