This book review was written by Eugene Kernes
“To be easy and ready to be reconciled, and well pleased again with them that had offended me, as soon as any of them would be contentto seek unto me again. To read with diligence; not to rest satisfied with a light and superficial knowledge, nor quickly to assent to things commonly spoken of.” – Marcus Aurelius, His First Book, Page 33
“If to understand and to be reasonable be common unto all men, then is that reason, for which we are termed reasonable, common unto all. If reason is general, then is that reason also, which prescribeth what is to be done and what not, common unto all. If that, then law. If law, then are we fellow-citizens. If so, then are we partners in some one commonweal. If so, then the world is as it were a city. For which other commonweal is it, that all men can be said to be members of? From this common city it is, that understanding, reason, and law is derived unto us, for from whence else?” – Marcus Aurelius, The Fourth Book, Page 59
“Do not ever conceive anything impossible to man, which by thee cannot, or not without much difficulty be effected; but whatsoever in general thou canst Conceive possible and proper unto any man, think that very possible unto thee also.” – Marcus Aurelius, The Sixth Book, Page 87
Overview:
Conflict and disagreement do occur, but people need to readily seek reconciliation. To reaccept those who had previously offended. Hostilities endure when people resist regaining friendly relations. Reason facilitates cooperation between people. Society depends on the cooperation of people. Therefore, other people either need to be taught how to improve their behavior, or be tolerated. Behavior and thinking skills are not innate, and need to be taught. To utilize reason and judgment to make the most appropriate decisions as possible. Discovering the most appropriate decisions, would require questioning superficial knowledge. To not easily assent to popular claims.
People need to find contentment in their lives. Which comes from proper work and appropriate
behavior. People will only do that which
is possible. Individuals are more
interested in activities which they have taken internal responsibility for,
rather than pressured externally to do.
Individuals need to live in the present.
The future is uncertain, while the past has already happened. No matter what people strive for and have
achieved in their life, death takes them all the same. Praise for contemporary achievements occurs
because of political considerations.
Caveats?
This is a very difficult book to read. Difficult formatting with antediluvian
references. Many similar topics and
ideas are sporadically placed. The claims
themselves are rarely given an explanation.
They appear to portray common observations that do not need an explanation.
