A Stoic's View On Removing Thorns From Your Side

Of the 72 Roman emperors, Marcus Aurelius, who reigned between 161-180 CE, still reigns supreme in my mind. It's not just because he had curly hair like I do, but he had a very soothing yet empowering philosophy: learn to control your thoughts—well within everyone’s ability—and reap the benefits.

In “Meditations” he writes: “If you take away your opinion about what seems to give you pain, you yourself stand in perfect security.”

He also wrote: “If you are pained by any external thing, it is not the thing that disturbs you, but your own judgement about it. And it is in your own power to wipe out that judgement.”

His writings reflect the heart and power of stoic philosophy which encompasses looking at events in one’s life without engaging judgement. It is this detachment that keeps emotions steady and in neutral.

I don’t believe Marcus meant for any of us to be devoid of feelings or indifferent to unwanted outcomes, either personal or worldly. Rather, he teaches us that we personally hold the key to interpreting life’s events either from a place of radical intelligence which allows us to maintain our composure, or from that place of judgement that keeps our livers in a boil.

Marcus was one of the most important stoic philosophers who wrote his private thoughts and conclusions in his journal “Meditations” circa 171-175 CE. There is much for us to learn from his genius, and as the librarian of Fort Biblio, I plan to post many, many more lessons from this great philosopher king.

For now, I hope you will meditate on the quotes above and try to apply them to your life. I am quite sure you will feel happier for releasing all those thorns in your side that we otherwise call judgements.