A Poetic Summary of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

A Poetic Summary of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.

Entire Poem (Full Text):

A Roman emperor's reflections
On life and death, on virtue and vice
A guide to living with stoic principles
A quest for wisdom and inner peace

He thanks the gods and those who taught him
To be just, kind, and self-controlled
He faces the challenges of ruling and fighting
With calmness, courage, and resolve

He reminds himself of the nature of things
How everything changes, and nothing lasts
How reason governs the cosmic order
How the soul is part of the divine spark

He urges himself to act with purpose
To follow his duty and his role
To live in harmony with others and himself
To accept what he cannot control

He contemplates the meaning of existence
How death is inevitable and not to be feared
How fame and pleasure are empty distractions
How only philosophy can make him prepared

He seeks to be a good human being
To practice virtues and avoid vices
To be grateful for what he has been given
To die with dignity and grace

Meditations is a book of philosophical reflections by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who was a follower of Stoicism. The book consists of 12 books, each focusing on different themes such as living a virtuous life, dealing with other people, understanding nature and the divine, and facing death. The book is not a systematic treatise, but rather a collection of personal notes that Marcus Aurelius wrote to himself, mostly during his military campaigns. The book reveals Marcus Aurelius’ inner struggles and his attempts to overcome them by applying the principles of Stoicism, which teaches that one should live in harmony with reason and nature, and not be disturbed by external events or emotions. The book is considered one of the most influential works of Western philosophy and a source of wisdom and guidance for many people.

Music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay

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