A golden-age Roman Emperor's advice
The 'Meditations' of Marcus Aurelius celebrates values that may be going out of style in Trump's America
“The golden age of America begins right now.” So declared newly inaugurated President Donald Trump at the beginning of his speech in the Capitol rotunda.
In the golden age of the Roman Empire, nearly 2,000 years ago, an emperor compiled his thoughts about life and philosophy in a series of notes on papyrus scrolls. In his 50s and expecting his life to end soon, Marcus Aurelius began his reflections (now known as “Meditations”) with a volley of thanks to various friends, mentors and relatives.
As the book confirms, he was a believer in Stoicism, which prizes values such as “wisdom, morality, courage, and moderation,” according to Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor.
Marcus Aurelius paid a particularly fulsome tribute to Antoninus, his adopted father and predecessor as emperor.
He posthumously praised Antoninus for resisting “all attempts to flatter him.”
For his “constant devotion to the empire’s needs. His stewardship of the treasury…
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