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09.14.2018: One Chapter of Nonfiction


Today's soundtrack is Joni Mitchell: Ladies of the Canyon, a gorgeous album released by the Canadian artist in 1970. I'm so glad to have finally found the source of the "Dooo bup bup bup bup" song that I heard many years ago in a coffee shop - Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi"!


This afternoon, I'm reading the second chapter of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, "Book II."


Remind yourself every morning that those who seem to us to be insufferable fools are so because of their ignorance. We who know the beauty of goodness are above the pettiness of those men, and should cooperate with them for the greater good, rather than ignoring them.


Do not be ruled by your body; be satisfied with what you have in life, and embrace the future.


All things are arranged by Providence for the good of the universe. Do not make lists of new ways to acquire knowledge; rather, apply the knowledge that you have.


We have a short time on this earth; do not waste opportunities given to you.


We should use what we have at hand to act with "perfect and simple dignity and feelings of affection and freedom and justice" (p. 9); nothing else should we care about. We should live each moment as if it is our last, doing everything carefully and properly, without "hypocrisy, self-love, and discontent with the portion that has been given to you" (p. 9). We only need a few things to live a good and quiet life.


We are all given enough time to live a good life, if only we can recognize that our satisfaction is found within ourselves, not within the opinions of others.


Instead of trying to reactively catch up with all of the things around you, "learn something new and good" (p. 9) that will steady you. Do not be like those who tire themselves out by chasing every new fad.


We are not made sad by not knowing what another thinks, but we cannot be happy if we don't know what we think.


Know what your relationship to the universe is. What is your place in this world? Nobody can stop you from playing your life's part.


Committing evil for pleasure is more despicable than committing evil out of anger.


We do not need to be afraid of death. That which is good for man is good for man's life. Remember that good things sometimes happen to bad people, and bad things sometimes happen to good people. A person's circumstances do not tell us whether he is a good or bad person.


Nothing is permanent.


Do not assume what others think. Not everyone is clear on the difference between good and evil.


Eternity is a circle; we can only count on the present.


Every man sees truth differently from his neighbour.


To be one with the universe is to accept what may come. A man who is angry does harm to his own soul. A man who is overcome with passion, whether through "pleasure or by pain" (p. 11), or who is deceitful, or who acts without first thinking, hurts his soul. Every one of our actions should be working toward a larger purpose.


Time passes us by in the blink of an eye. Everything is here and then it is gone. Not even fame can be relied upon. The only guide that man has is Philosophy.


Only by following sound philosophy can we be "free from violence and unharmed, superior to pains and pleasures, doing nothing without a purpose, nor yet falsely and with hypocrisy, not feeling the need of another man's doing or not doing anything; and besides, accepting all that happens, and all that is allotted, as coming from the same source, wherever it is, from which he himself came; and, finally, waiting for death with a cheerful mind, as being nothing else than a dissolution of the elements of which every living being is compounded" (p. 12).

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