Unintentional Inspiration

• I cannot think of a single book that has received worldwide acclaim for its inspirational impact that was not intentionally written to convey its contents to others, with the exception of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. He ruled Rome as emperor from 161-180 AD. During this period, he kept a personal journal containing aphorisms, admonishments, observations and insights intended for his personal review and consideration. 

  
  

  Although he never intended others to view his writings, after his death his journal was found to be so inspirational that is was copied repeatedly. The structure of Meditations can sometimes be a little awkward, but the contents frequently reveal the seeds of contemporary thoughts. Undoubtedly this is due to the fact that so many influential individuals have read it repeatedly, absorbing and conveying the wisdom contained in it.

  
  

  I find it a continual source of enlightenment.  It seems that every time I read it, I encounter a new thought that challenges and stimulates my thinking. These candidly unedited writings permit us to explore many of the  most meaningful thoughts Aurelius preserved for himself. Although I may not always agree with what is presented, I am, nonetheless, challenged to clarify my own position on any given topic.

  
  

  What follows are just a few quotes that will hopefully encourage you to read it for yourself.

  
  

  - Stop talking about what a good man is like and just be one.

  
  

  - It never ceases to amaze me.  We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.

  
  

  - Choose not to be harmed, and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed, and you haven’t been.

  
  

  - What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness.

  
  

  - A straight forward honest person should be like someone who stinks. When you’re in the same room with him you know it.  

  
  

  - The despicable phoniness of people who say,”Listen, I’m going to level with you here.” What does that mean? It shouldn’t even need to be said. It should be obvious, written in block letters on your forehead. It should be audible in your voice, visible in your eyes like a lover who looks into your eyes and takes in the whole story at a glance. 

  
  

  - When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself the people I deal with today will be mettling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly. They are like this because they cannot tell good from evil. But, I have seen the beauty of good and the ugliness of evil and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own, not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind and possessing a share of the divine.