Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121-180) is considered one of the forefathers of stoic philosophy. Ascending to the imperial throne in A.D. 161, Aurelius’ reign was beset by natural disasters and war. In the wake of these challenges, he wrote down a series of private reflections, outlining a philosophy of commitment to virtue above pleasure and tranquility above happiness.
That series of private reflections is contained in the book, Meditations.
One of my favorite reflections is the following:
At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work – as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for – the things which I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?
