"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” That's a quote by my favorite stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius. Marcus was brilliant. In fact, I will go so far as to say he has taught me more about living properly than anyone I can think of. It's not just me that sings his praises either. His major work, "Meditations" has existed for thousands of years and is still in print today.
I honestly believe that if more people read "Meditations" there would be less war and bloodshed in this world. In fact, his work is so important to me, that I am currently looking for two leather-bound copies of Meditations to give to my daughters when they are ready to leave home. The picture above has another of his quotes that I think everyone should have to read while they are in school. If you know someone who likes to think... do them a favor and get them a copy of this book. If they can get past the first few pages, then they will be reading for a lifetime! I keep a copy right near the side of my bed, and I like to read a couple of pages a night, right before I go to bed. To get back to his quote, I think it is direct and to the point and quite simple. Too many people want to argue about what is best... instead of doing what is best. To Marcus Aurelius, he didn't want to quibble about who was right or wrong or what was best for any one person. What he cared most about was that everyone worked toward their ideal of what a good man should be. Obviously he is right. It shouldn't matter to you (not really anyway) what I believe a good man should be and how he should act. What should matter to you, is that I am doing my best to be the best that I can. All of us have had different life experiences. I don't care whether you are brother and sister or husband and wife. None of us have experienced anything the exact same way as anyone else. We have all seen the world through our own experiences. Even so, We all have a basic idea of right and wrong and just and unjust. If we all worked toward living these ideals, the world would be that much better of a place! Since we all view things a little differently, we have courts to decide between those major differences. The best courts have juries decide those differences. Twelve people to act as the judgement for our society. When done properly, these twelve men can reach a consensus on what is just and what is not. The system breaks down when people can no longer decide what a good man is let alone try to be one. And THAT is where I believe we are right now. Too many people are not trying to be a "good" man (or woman). Instead, they only worry about their present circumstance and how they can best profit from it. A good man does not kill innocent people... although they may kill the unjust or guilty. When people rely too much on their society to figure out what is right or wrong, instead of on their own instincts, then we get into long periods of chaos. My advice: Read meditations. Think about what he is actually saying, and then try to live your life to the best of your abilities. There is so much in "Meditations" that is worth quoting. I will leave you with two last quotes. "Our life is what our thoughts make it." and "It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” Live people! and be the best man that you can be! (Ladies, I use man but it can quite easily be woman! Don't get offended by me using the masculine. Instead take the advice for how it was meant.)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
September 2021
Categories
All
|