Marcus Aurelius. Alone with myself
There was such an emperor: he lived happily, did not abuse any excesses, had a strong family, had high hopes for his son-heir, strengthened the borders of the Roman Empire, not without success participated in continuous wars and repelled the onslaught of barbarians, died unexpectedly on a campaign near modern Vienna. In his spare time he made brief notes about thought and experience; He wrote not in Latin, but in ancient Greek. The result was a masterpiece book, which was discovered after the death of the emperor, sorting through his archive.
After Marcus Aurelius, the troubles and misfortunes of the state began to grow like an avalanche. Son - Emperor Commodus - turned out to be a bastard. The barbarians broke through the sacred borders of the empire. Two centuries later, Alaric stormed and sacked Rome, later vandals completed its complete destruction. From Eternal City only ruins remain. The book of the emperor-philosopher - the only one of the monotonous succession of rulers of Rome - still sparkles as an unfading gem in the crown of world culture.
To some extent, Marcus Aurelius managed to realize the crystal dream of Plato, according to whom the government of the state will only reach optimal perfection when philosophers come to power. Emperor Mark for all the long world history was the only philosopher on the throne. A real philosopher - his name is on a par with other great thinkers in any textbook on the history of philosophy in the section on the Stoics. Life position and the moral ideal of the Stoics have always been associated with in-depth self-improvement aimed at achieving the common good. Marcus Aurelius, as best he could, tried to put into practice this philosophical setting.
What problems worried the Roman emperor, the ruler of the half world, to whom any desire was available? Yes, everything that worries any person - yesterday, today, tomorrow. The royal philosopher only deepened, systematized and generalized the thoughts that certainly occurred to others. But he begins with a respectful and sincere expression of gratitude to his parents, ancestors, friends, teachers and Gods (all in order) for teaching him the philosophical vision of the world, the art of self-improvement and the mysteries of self-deepening:
I am indebted to Grandfather Ver for his cordiality and forbearance.
To the glory of the parent and the memory he left behind - modesty and masculinity.
Mothers - piety, generosity and abstinence not only from bad deeds, but also from bad thoughts. And also a simple way of life, far from any luxury.
Great-grandfather - because he did not attend public schools, used the services of excellent teachers at home and realized that this should not be spared money. "..."
To his father - meekness and unshakable firmness in decisions made after a mature discussion, lack of interest in imaginary honors, love for work and diligence, attentive attitude towards everyone who had to make any generally useful proposal, steady retribution to each according to his dignity, knowledge where measures of severity are needed, and where meekness, the eradication of love for boys, devotion to common interests. "..."
The gods - because I have good grandfathers, good parents, a good sister, good teachers, good households, relatives, friends, almost everyone around me, and the fact that I did not have to offend any of them, although I have such a character in which I could, on occasion, do something similar; but by the grace of the gods there was no such confluence of circumstances that should have convicted me.
Leave the books, do not be distracted from the case, time does not endure.
Eliminate the conviction - the complaint of harm will also be eliminated. Eliminate the complaint of harm - the harm itself will be eliminated.
The best way to protect yourself from resentment is not to become like the offender.
Look inside yourself. Inside is a source of goodness that will never run out if you don't stop digging. People are born for each other. Therefore, either enlighten or endure.
Time human life- moment; its essence is an eternal flow; sensation is vague; the structure of the whole body is perishable; the soul is unstable; fate is mysterious; fame is unreliable. In a word, everything pertaining to the body is like a stream, pertaining to the soul is dream and smoke. Life is a struggle and a journey through a foreign land; posthumous glory - oblivion. But what can lead to the path? Nothing but philosophy.
Often the thought of Marcus Aurelius reaches the heights of poetic perfection:
Well, neglect, neglect yourself, soul! After all, you will not be able to treat yourself with due attention soon. Life in general is fleeting, your life is already running out, and you do not respect yourself, but make your well-being dependent on the souls of other people.
Don't let what comes to you from outside dispel you! Make time for yourself to learn something good and stop wandering without a goal. Another grave delusion must also be guarded against. After all, people are insane who, all their lives, are without strength from work and still do not have a goal to which they would conform, entirely all aspirations and ideas.
The center of gravity of the Stoic emperor's philosophical reflections is Man in all his inexhaustible shades and mysteries. The writer tries to find the key to harmony human soul to sources of personal and common good. He is looking for the highest truth, with the help of which he intends to achieve the ideal of self-improvement. Marcus Aurelius thinks a lot about death, which, in his opinion, equates Alexander the Great with his muleteer:
Think about death constantly. “...” Only one thing is truly valuable: to live life observing truth and justice and maintaining benevolence towards deceitful and unjust people. "..."
Imagine that you have already died, that you have lived only up to the present moment, and spend the remaining time of your life, as having been given to you beyond expectation, in accordance with nature.
But death for him is just a stage of transition to eternity:
Everything material will very soon disappear in the world essence, each causal beginning will very soon be absorbed by the world mind. And the memory of everything no less soon finds its grave in eternity. "..."
The circulation of the world “…” from eternity to eternity is unchanged. “...” Soon the earth will cover all of us, then it will change, and what will happen from it will change ad infinitum. And who, having pondered over the waves of changes and transformations running on each other with such speed, will not be filled with contempt for everything mortal?
In the middle of the Eternal City, for almost eighteen centuries now, a bronze equestrian monument to Emperor Marcus Aurelius has been rising. Neither time nor ideology proved powerless over the monument. He was spared by the barbarians who plundered and scorched Rome, the popes of Rome did not touch him, who uprooted everything that at least somehow reminded of paganism (although here Marcus Aurelius was simply lucky: he was confused with another emperor - Constantine - the patron of Christianity). But, perhaps, such is the will of fate. After all, a little book written for the soul and in solitude by a philosopher and writer who bore the imperial title belongs to everyone. That's what he wanted, and that's how it happened.
© AST Publishing House LLC, 2018
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"Reflections" are personal notes of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, made by him in the 70s. 2nd century n. e. Thanks to the exceptional position of Marcus Aurelius and his literary talent, this document, which allows (the rarest case in history ancient literature) observe not so much even personal life as intense personal work over the development of the achievements of the centuries-old Stoic tradition, later became one of the most widely read monuments of world literature.
The publication is based on a complete Russian translation of the work of Marcus Aurelius, made by S. Rogovin and published in the series "Monuments of World Literature" by the publishing house of M. and S. Sabashnikov in 1914 in Moscow. To a large extent, S. Rogovin's translation is nothing more than a conscientious interlinear translation, and therefore he needed some adaptation. However, when editing, the meaning and spirit of the statements of Marcus Aurelius is certainly preserved.
Given that the author of the Meditations used the complex and ambiguous terminology of Stoic philosophy, which is not always clear to the modern reader, these concepts are revealed in the text of the notes, primarily on the basis of ancient sources.
First book
1 From Vera, my grandfather, I inherited cordiality and gentleness.
2 From the glory of my parent and the memory he left behind - modesty and masculinity.
3 From the mother - piety, generosity, abstinence not only from bad deeds, but also from bad thoughts. And also - the simplicity of a way of life, far from any luxury.
4 From great-grandfather - that he did not have to attend public schools; I used the services of excellent teachers at home and realized that it was worth spending money on it;
5 From the teacher - indifference to the struggle between green and blue, the victories of gladiators with Thracian or Gallic weapons. Unpretentiousness, endurance in labors, non-fussiness and the desire for independence in solving cases, immunity to slander.
6 From Diognet - dislike for trifles, distrust of the tales of miracle workers and wizards about spells, exorcism of demons and the like. And also the fact that he did not breed quails, was not fond of nonsense, but gave himself up to philosophy, listening first to Bacchius, then Tandasid and Marcian. Since childhood, he wrote dialogues and fell in love with a simple bed, animal skin and other accessories of the Hellenic way of life.
7 From Rustik - the idea of the need to correct and educate one's character, not to deviate towards sophisticated sophistry and compose senseless theories, not to compose exhortation speeches, not to play for show either a passion-bearer or a benefactor, not to get carried away with rhetoric, poetic decorations of speech, and not to walk around at home in table. Thanks to him, I write letters in a simple style, following the example of a letter written by himself from Sinuessa to my mother. I am always ready for condescension and reconciliation with those who, in anger, acted wrongly, insultingly, as soon as they take the first step towards restoring our old relationship. I try to delve into everything I read, not content with a superficial glance, but I am in no hurry to agree with the verbose empty talk. Rusticus was the first to introduce me to the Memoirs of Epictetus by loaning them from his library.
8 From Apollonius - free-thinking and prudence, the desire to be steadily guided by nothing other than reason, remaining true to oneself during unbearable pain, the loss of a child and a serious illness. By his example, I was clearly convinced that in one and the same person the greatest perseverance can be combined with condescension. When I have to explain something with difficulty, I do not get irritated and do not lose my temper, because I saw a person who considered experience and skill in conveying the deepest knowledge to be the least of his virtues. From him I learned how to accept so-called favors from friends, without feeling eternally obligated, but also without showing indifference.
9 From Sextus - benevolence; an example of a father-led home, an idea of life according to nature and true greatness, a caring attitude towards the needs of friends, the ability to patiently endure ignorance, superficiality, conceit and get along with everyone. Communication with Sextus was more pleasant than any flattery, and even among the flatterers themselves, he enjoyed the greatest honor, contrary to his own desire. From him I learned methodically to find and bind together the fundamental rules of life, not to show signs of anger or any other passion, to combine equanimity with the most tender respectful affections, to enjoy a good reputation, observing decency, to accumulate knowledge without displaying it.
10 From Alexander the Grammar, I learned to refrain from reproaches and hurtful remarks to those who allowed barbarisms, distortions and dissonance of speech, offering them the proper expressions in the form of an answer, confirmation or joint analysis of the subject itself, and not a turn of speech or by other appropriate reminder device.
11 From Fronton - the understanding that tyranny entails slander, resourcefulness, hypocrisy, and that, in general, people who are known as aristocrats among us are distinguished by heartlessness and callous soul.
12 From the Platonist Alexander, I learned to avoid frequent, not forced by circumstances, references in letters and conversations to my employment and not to evade duties in relation to my neighbors under the pretext of "urgent" matters.
13 From Catulus - attentiveness to the complaints of friends, even unfounded and absurd, the desire to resolve all conflicts, sincere respect for their teachers, the desire to give them praise, as Domitius and Athenodotus did, judging by the memoirs, and also - true love for children.
14 From my brother Sever - love for loved ones, love for truth and justice. The knowledge gained thanks to him about Thraseus, Helvidia, Cato, Dion, Brutus and the idea of \u200b\u200ba state with equal laws for all, arranged on the basis of equality and universal equality, about a government that puts above all the freedom of citizens. To him I owe unwavering respect for philosophy, charity, constancy in generosity, hopes for the best and faith in friendly feelings. He never hid his condemnation of anyone's misdeeds, and his friends did not have to guess about his desires - they were clear to everyone.
15 From Maxim - self-control, obstinacy to other people's influences, cheerfulness in difficult circumstances, including illnesses, a balanced character, courtesy and self-esteem, diligence in the timely execution of regular tasks. No matter what Maxim said, everyone believed in his sincerity, no matter what he did - in his good intentions. From him I learned not to be surprised at anything, not to be amazed, not to rush or delay in anything, not to get lost, not to indulge in despondency, not to squander unnecessary praises that later provoke anger and suspicion, but to be indulgent, to do good deeds, shunning lies, having in mind the irreparability of the deed, and not belated corrections.
He knew how to joke, observing decency, without showing contemptuous arrogance, but no one considered himself superior to him.
16 From the father - meekness and unshakable firmness in carefully considered decisions, lack of interest in imaginary honors, love for work and diligence, attention to everyone who can make any generally useful proposal, invariable reward to everyone according to his dignity, understanding where rigor is needed , and where is the greater softness. Thanks to the father - the cessation of love affairs with boys and devotion to public affairs. The father allowed his friends not to come to his dinners and not necessarily accompany him on his travels; those who were away on business, upon returning, retained his former disposition. During the meetings, he stubbornly insisted on examining all the circumstances of the case and was in no hurry to put an end to the discussion, being content with the first decision that came up. He maintained a constant relationship with his friends, not changing them because of satiety, but also not succumbing to excessive enthusiasm for them. Independence in everything, a clear mind, foresight of events far ahead, prudent diligence in everything, down to the smallest detail, without a shadow of arrogance with one's abilities. There were fewer welcome clicks and all sorts of flattery with him. And the vigilant protection of what the state needs, thrift in spending and endurance when it was blamed on him. And he had no superstitious fear of the gods, and as for people, there was neither fawning before the people, nor the desire to please, nor servility to the crowd, but, on the contrary, sobriety and thoroughness; and never the tasteless pursuit of novelty. Everything that makes life easy - and this fate gave him in abundance - he used both modestly and at the same time willingly, so that he calmly took what was and did not need what was not. And no one would say about him that he is a sophist, a vulgar talker or a pedant, but, on the contrary, that he is a well-established, perfect, alien to flattery and capable leader of both his own and other people's affairs. In addition, he appreciated the true philosophers, and did not blame the rest, although he did not succumb to them. In addition, sociability and courtesy, but not through the measure. He took proper care of his body, not like some kind of lover of life and not for show, however, he did not neglect it, so that, thanks to caring for the body, he needed medicine, internal and external medicines as little as possible.
In particular, he was inferior without any envy to people who were outstanding in anything, whether it was expressive speech, the study of laws, or mores, or anything else.
He helped to ensure that everyone was honored according to their talents.
Although he observed his father's customs in everything, it was not noticeable to anyone that he tried to observe them - that is, these fatherly customs. In addition, there was no restlessness and throwing in him, he spent time in the same places and activities. And after bouts of headache, he was immediately fresh and full of energy for ordinary labors.
He did not have many secrets, on the contrary, very few, and rarely ever; all of them dealt exclusively with public affairs. He was prudent and moderate in the organization of spectacles, in construction and in the distribution of benefits. He paid attention to the very performance of duty, and not to the glory that comes from the performance of duty.
He did not use baths at odd times, was not fond of building luxurious buildings, was unpretentious in food, fabrics, color of robes, and the choice of beautiful slaves. In Lorium, he wore formal clothes made in the nearby estate, in Lanuvium, for the most part, he went dressed in a tunic, in Tusculan he wore a cloak, considering it necessary to apologize for this - such was he in everything. There was nothing rude, obscene, unbridled in him, nothing that would allow one to speak of "zeal beyond reason", on the contrary, he sorted everything out in every detail, as if at his leisure, calmly, in order, patiently, according to the essence of the matter. What they say about Socrates would suit my father - about his ability to both refrain and enjoy, while the majority are not able to refrain, do not indulge in pleasures. To be steadfast in both, to be strong and sober in judgment, is the property of a person with a perfect and invincible soul. That is how he showed himself during Maxim's illness.
17 From the gods - that I have good grandfathers, good parents, a good sister, good teachers, good households, relatives, friends, almost everything. And the fact that I did not offend any of them, although I have such a tendency, and on occasion I could do it.
It is the blessing of the gods that there was no such combination of circumstances that would put me to shame.
And the fact that I was not brought up for long by my grandfather's mistress. And that I saved my youth; and that I did not mature prematurely, but also somewhat delayed it.
I learned to obey my boss and father, who deliberately eradicated all arrogance in me and inspired me that even at court no bodyguards, no luxurious robes, no torches, no statues, and similar pomp are needed, but that it is possible to limit oneself, approaching as as much as possible to the life of private individuals, and that this does not at all make you slower and more timid when it is necessary to show strength in matters of government.
I have a brother who, by his moral qualities, could induce me to develop and at the same time pleased me with honor and love.
My children were born intelligent and without bodily defects. It is also good that I did not make much progress either in rhetoric, or in poetics, or in other studies, which I, perhaps, would indulge in if I felt that I was moving quickly forward in them.
I was not slow to secure to my tutors that honorable position which they seemed to me to desire, and I did not put off the realization of their hopes for a later time under the pretext that they were still young.
And the fact that I met Apollonius, Rustik and Maxim. Often and distinctly I had an idea of what life is in harmony with nature, so that, since it depends on the gods and on the gifts, influences and suggestions emanating from them, nothing prevents me from living according to nature, and if I not enough, it is only through my fault and because I do not follow the reminders coming from the gods and almost direct instructions.
And the fact that I still retained my health so much in such a life. And the fact that I did not touch either Benedikta or Fedot, and later remained healthy when love passions took possession of me. I often got angry with Rustik, but I did nothing that I would later regret.
My parent, who was to die young, nevertheless lived her last years with me.
No matter how many times I wanted to help some poor or needy person, I never heard that I did not have money for this. And I myself have not had to fall into such a need to borrow from another.
And the fact that my wife is so obedient, so dearly loved, so simple-hearted.
And that there were plenty of suitable educators for the children.
I am also indebted to the gods for the fact that in dreams I was given help, especially against hemoptysis and dizziness, which happened in Cayet ...
And the fact that when I was striving for philosophy, I did not stumble upon some sophist, did not sit over the writings of historians, did not analyze conclusions and did not indulge in the study of heavenly bodies.
After all, all this needs the help of the gods and fate.
Written in the area of the quads, on the banks of the Granui.
MARCUS AURELIUS: ALONE WITH YOURSELF
There was such an emperor: he lived happily, did not abuse any excesses, had a strong family, had high hopes for his son-heir, strengthened the borders of the Roman Empire, not without success participated in continuous wars and repelled the onslaught of barbarians, died unexpectedly on a campaign near modern Vienna. In his spare time he made brief notes about thought and experience; He wrote not in Latin, but in ancient Greek. The result was a masterpiece book, which was discovered after the death of the emperor, sorting through his archive.
After Marcus Aurelius, the troubles and misfortunes of the state began to grow like an avalanche. Son - Emperor Commodus - turned out to be a bastard. The barbarians broke through the sacred borders of the empire. Two centuries later, Alaric stormed and sacked Rome, later vandals completed its complete destruction. Only ruins remained of the Eternal City. The book of the emperor-philosopher - the only one of the monotonous succession of rulers of Rome - still sparkles as an unfading gem in the crown of world culture.
To some extent, Marcus Aurelius managed to realize the crystal dream of Plato, according to whom the government of the state will only reach optimal perfection when philosophers come to power. Emperor Mark in the long history of the world was the only philosopher on the throne. A real philosopher - his name is on a par with other great thinkers in any textbook of the history of philosophy in the section on the Stoics. The life position and moral ideal of the Stoics have always been associated with in-depth self-improvement aimed at achieving the common good. Marcus Aurelius, as best he could, tried to put into practice this philosophical setting.
What problems worried the Roman emperor, the ruler of the half world, to whom any desire was available? Yes, everything that worries any person - yesterday, today, tomorrow. The royal philosopher only deepened, systematized and generalized the thoughts that certainly occurred to others. But he begins with a respectful and sincere expression of gratitude to his parents, ancestors, friends, teachers and Gods (all in order) for teaching him the philosophical vision of the world, the art of self-improvement and the mysteries of self-deepening:
I am indebted to Grandfather Ver for his cordiality and forbearance.
To the glory of the parent and the memory he left behind - modesty and masculinity.
Mothers - piety, generosity and abstinence not only from bad deeds, but also from bad thoughts. And also a simple way of life, far from any luxury.
Great-grandfather - because he did not attend public schools, used the services of excellent teachers at home and realized that this should not be spared money. "..."
To his father - meekness and unshakable firmness in decisions made after a mature discussion, lack of interest in imaginary honors, love for work and diligence, attentive attitude towards everyone who had to make any generally useful proposal, steady retribution to each according to his dignity, knowledge where measures of severity are needed, and where meekness, the eradication of love for boys, devotion to common interests. "..."
Gods - because I have good grandfathers, good parents, a good sister, good teachers, good household members, relatives, friends, almost everyone around me, and the fact that I did not have to offend any of them, although I have such a character in which I could, on occasion, do something similar; but by the grace of the gods there was no such confluence of circumstances that should have convicted me.
Leave the books, do not be distracted from the case, time does not endure.
Eliminate belief, and the complaint of harm will also be eliminated. Eliminate the complaint of harm, and the harm itself will be eliminated.
The best way to protect yourself from resentment is not to become like the offender.
Look inside yourself. Inside is a source of goodness that will never run out if you don't stop digging. People are born for each other. Therefore, either enlighten or endure.
The time of a human life is a moment; its essence is an eternal flow; sensation is vague; the structure of the whole body is perishable; the soul is unstable; fate is mysterious; fame is unreliable. In a word, everything pertaining to the body is like a stream, pertaining to the soul is dream and smoke. Life is a struggle and a journey through a foreign land; posthumous glory - oblivion. But what can lead to the path? Nothing but philosophy.
Often the thought of Marcus Aurelius reaches the heights of poetic perfection:
Well, neglect, neglect yourself, soul! After all, you will not be able to treat yourself with due attention soon. Life in general is fleeting, your life is already running out, and you do not respect yourself, but make your well-being dependent on the souls of other people.
Don't let what comes to you from outside dispel you! Make time for yourself to learn something good and stop wandering without a goal. Another grave delusion must also be guarded against. After all, people are insane who, all their lives, are without strength from work and still do not have a goal to which they would conform, entirely all aspirations and ideas.
The center of gravity of the Stoic emperor's philosophical reflections is Man in all his inexhaustible nuances and mysteries. The writer is trying to find the key to the harmony of the human soul, to the sources of personal and common good. He is looking for the highest truth, with the help of which he intends to achieve the ideal of self-improvement. Marcus Aurelius thinks a lot about death, which, in his opinion, equates Alexander the Great with his muleteer:
Think about death constantly. “...” Only one thing is truly valuable: to live life observing truth and justice and maintaining benevolence towards deceitful and unjust people. "..."
Imagine that you have already died, that you have lived only up to the present moment, and spend the remaining time of your life, as having been given to you beyond expectation, in accordance with nature.
But death for him is just a stage of transition to eternity:
Everything material will very soon disappear in the world essence, each causal beginning will very soon be absorbed by the world mind. And the memory of everything no less soon finds its grave in eternity. "..."
The circulation of the world “…” from eternity to eternity is unchanged. “...” Soon the earth will cover all of us, then it will change, and what will happen from it will change ad infinitum. And who, having pondered over the waves of changes and transformations running on each other with such speed, will not be filled with contempt for everything mortal?
In the middle of the Eternal City, for almost eighteen centuries now, a bronze equestrian monument to Emperor Marcus Aurelius has been rising. Neither time nor ideology proved powerless over the monument. He was spared by the barbarians who plundered and scorched Rome, did not touch the popes, who uprooted everything that somehow reminded of paganism (although here Marcus Aurelius was simply lucky: he was confused with another emperor - Constantine - the patron of Christianity). But, perhaps, such is the will of fate. After all, a little book written for the soul and in solitude by a philosopher and writer who bore the imperial title belongs to everyone. That's what he wanted, and that's how it happened.
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