Reason #1: Marcus Aurelius Was a Great Emperor

Reading 'Meditations' can transform your perspective on adversity and success.

Marcus Aurelius faced several challenges as a Roman emperor:

• Wars

• A flood that caused severe damage to the city

• A plague that killed many people

• Treacherous and overly ambitious individuals

The list can go on for hours...

However, what matters is that Marcus did not give up. He did not blame anyone for his difficult fate. He took responsibility and did the best he could with what he got.

Because of his courage, resilience, and abilities, he became one of the greatest Roman emperors ever.

Reason #2: An Emperor Amongst Philosophers, And a Philosopher Amongst Emperors

Marcus Aurelius offers us a unique perspective, blending imperial power with philosophical wisdom.

If he wanted to, he could have easily indulged himself in the pleasures of life. He was arguably the most powerful man during his time as an emperor. Yet, he chose not to. He found peace and tranquility through the Stoic philosophy.

A man of such high status rarely remains so firmly with his feet on the ground.

Reason #3: Marcus Aurelius Was, Above All Else, A Human Being

Did you know that 'Meditations' was a personal journal, never intended to be published or read by the public?

For me, this is the most important reason this book is so great. Marcus never expected that so many people would read his thoughts. I think this is why he was so open and vulnerable at times.

Marcus Aurelius was not a God. He struggled with the same problems we struggle with today.

He experienced a lot of anxiety. At times, he was tired of life. He suffered from some physical problems later on in life. He buried a lot of his children. He made mistakes both as an emperor and as a human being. For sure, he was not perfect. However, paradoxically, this is what makes him so great. He accepted his flaws. He learned from his mistakes. He accepted that not everything was in his control. Even though he had every reason to fall in despair, he refused to do so and tried to build a better world for himself and his people.

Can't we all learn something from such a human being?