Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was the last of the "Five Good Emperors of Rome." A term coined by Niccolò Machiavelli to describe what is considered the height of the Roman Empire. More to the point, Aurelius was not only a great ruler and leader but also a Stoic Philosopher. During his campaigns in what is modern day Serbia he wrote his Meditations, a collection of works of self reflection to be used as a guide for self improvement. Although I am not a Cesar, or really a ruler of men in general, I found some great ideas within his writings.

"Let nothing be done rashly, and at random, but all things according to the most exact and perfect rules of art."

"Hast thou reason? I have. Why then makest thou not use of it? For if thy reason do her part, what more canst thou require?"

"To suffer change can be no hurt; as no benefit it is, by change to attain to being. The age and time of the world is as it were a flood and swift current, consisting of the things that are brought to pass in the world. For as soon as anything hath appeared, and is passed away, another succeeds, and that also will presently out of sight. "

Wisdom comes from reflection of actions and desires, and that the power to understand them only lies in understanding yourself. That reason and logic should dominate your inner thoughts and that you should not let your emotions control your actions. That you are the only person who can make your life better, and it is a vain fancy to think that another can help you in that regard. To consider the virtues of those around you, and how you can learn from them. And that as long as others speak logically and rationally of your errors that it is wise to consider them as truth. I have read this several times and every time I go through it again I like to believe that I have begun down a path of enlightenment similar to Marcus Aurelius. You can read the whole of his Meditations.