we are in the froth
taco tuesday on deck...i imagine it will be active
buckle up and steady on
dyor
4h
D
stronghands
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lesser known facts about Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius never aspired to be emperor, he was a scholar and philosopher at heart
there is quite a bit of debate as to whether Marcus Aurelius was addicted to opium
he often used a drug called theriac(which contained opium)to manage chronic pain, and some passages in 'Meditations' might hint at the effects of drug use
despite his stoic philosophy, Marcus Aurelius was known to cry openly when discussing the suffering caused by a plague(see below)
he wept at the death of his mentor Junius Rusticus who introduced Marcus to the writings of Epictetus this shows a compassion far beyond the stereotype of stoic detachment
his reign was troubled by the Antonine Plague, a devastating pandemic that killed millions in the Roman Empire and was a time of great stress and personal loss for him
his most trusted general, Avidius Cassius, attempted a coup against him despite this treachery, Aurelius expressed sorrow rather than anger, and even wished to offer clemency before Cassius was assassinated
'Meditations' is indeed a collection of personal notes and reflections, it's a window into the mind of a philosopher grappling with ruling a vast empire while striving for inner peace and virtue
these are some of the key takeaways for me
the power of perception: Aurelius emphasizes how our thoughts shape our reality we can't always control external events, but we can choose our responses and interpretations
focus on virtue: he urges himself to live by stoic principles: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance these virtues define true worth, not power or fame
transience and acceptance: Aurelius pondered on the fleeting nature of life and worldly possessions he viewed death as a natural process and aimed to accept the inevitable with composure
duty and service: despite internal struggles, Marcus Aurelius recognizes his responsibility as emperor he aimed to fulfill his duty with justice and kindness, serving the greater good
living in accordance with nature: a key stoic concept, Marcus Aurelius sought to align his thoughts and actions with the natural order of the universe this involved reason, selflessness, and accepting what was outside of his control
i hope its understood that i dont say these things out of delusions of grandeur...rather, it come from a deep respect of his writings and these fundamental concepts
at its core i think bitcoin exemplifies much of this...where every individual can be their own emperor and master of their own fate
