In book 1, of Marcus Aurelius Meditations, Marcus Aurelius reflects on the most important people in his life. This first section is helpful in understanding Marcus’ upbringing. We read how his father died while he was still in childhood and is then adopted by his grandfather, Marcus Annius Verus, the same name as his father. Marcus is raised by his mother, who he speaks fondly of, and was schooled by slaves, scholars, and philosophers. Marcus’ uncle adopted both him and his brother Lucius Aelius Verus, as heirs to the throne; Lucius served as co-emperor under Marcus until his death of natural causes. Marcus and his wife had a total of fourteen children, seven of which died in early childhood. Commodus was Marcus’ only surviving son and the eventual emperor of Rome.…show more content… God only gives us so much as we can handle.
Marcus Aurelius says for us to reflect on how we have treated those around us and ask ourselves if we can sincerely make the claim that we have never wronged a man. The stoics were big on being nice to everyone which is something I respect them for. He also says that when another does me wrong let him see to it. When someone calls us names we should not grow angry but concentrate on our own self and let the other deal with his emotions.
Marcus says that we have such a small interval of universal time assigned to us. I do not particularly like to think of how little our time on earth is because it makes us seem insignificant. I want to do something so that I can be remembered after I die. In book 6, Marcus Aurelius says that the best way to avenge our self is by not becoming a wrong doer our self. This is another recurring theme that Marcus brings up, the idea of turning the other cheek. He says that we are to practice not being angry so that it will become easier to not have these feelings arise when we are confronted with slander—cognitive manipulation; we are working to change our very