The Philosopher King

Quotes are a conversation with the wisdom of the past.

Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Today my five would be: Jesus, Epictetus, Eckhart Tolle, Massimo Pigliucci, and Marcus Aurelius.

I live in rural Georgia, “twenty-miles from anywhere.” I’m pretty new to both philosophy and art. I did not go to college, and don’t have an MFA. Hell I don’t think I even know anyone who does. So when I began this artistic journey I had to search for the path, there wasn’t anyone to point me in the right direction. The same goes for the pursuit of wisdom– around here there’s pretty much only one option, and I find it a rather limited view. So I began my own search for understanding, which led me to western philosophy. And Marcus Aurelius’ book, Meditations, was one of my first reads.

This month marks the 1905th birthday of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, who is one of my mentors. Born Marcus Annius Verus, on April 26th, in the year 121; he was chosen by the Emperor Hadrian as his successor. Hadrian was nearing death, and without children. He had to pick a successor and after his first choice Lucius Ceionius died unexpectedly, he chose Antoninus Pius. Antoninus was a senator who was also childless and he would have to adopt Marcus, as per Hadrian’s condition, as well as Ceionius’s son, Lucius Verus. This is how Marcus’ name was changed to Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.

Marcus had no desire to become the Emperor of Rome– imagine a teenage boy being told that he would rule over the entire world saying, “Nah, I’d much rather just continue to study.” He even shared this immense power with his step brother Lucius Verus, until his co-ruler died eight years into their reign.

Marcus’ book, Meditations, was never meant to be shared with the world. It was his own personal journal. Meditations is the recorded thoughts of one of the most powerful humans in the course of history. It’s where this great man worked out his own struggles, where he coached himself on how to live ‘the good life’.

I journal every morning– It’s also the way I make sense of everything. So it’s only fitting that it resonates with me, because Marcus too struggled with many of the things that I do today. And also like Marcus, I too am searching for ‘the good life’.

The Philosopher King coaches me to focus on the present moment, and not worry about the things that are beyond my control. He says,“Don’t let your imagination be crushed by life as a whole. Don’t try to picture everything bad that could possibly happen. Stick with the situation at hand, and ask, “Why is this so unbearable? Why can’t I endure it?”

“Be tolerant with others, but strict with yourself,” is a reminder not to judge others, but to use them as a mirror to see better in what areas I am lacking virtue.

Marcus says, "Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is perspective, not the truth." Therefore, "You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone."

When he tells himself to, “turn obstacles upside down,” Marcus is also reminding me that everything that happens to me is part of my journey. This enables me to turn the obstacles that make my path more difficult into fuel, propelling me forward. He says, "Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart." Amor Fati

He reminds me that my time here is precious, “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

I’m a quote guy. For me, quotes are a conversation with the wisdom of the past. So I could go on forever, but I’ll wrap this up with one more from Marcus Aurelius Antoninus-

“When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the people around you have: this one’s energy, that one’s modesty, another’s generosity, and so on. Nothing is as encouraging as when virtues are visibly embodied in the people around us, when we’re practically showered with them. It’s good to keep this in mind.”

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