Anger, According to Marcus Aurelius: A Stoic’s Guide to Inner Peace
In a world that often provokes us, Marcus Aurelius —Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher—offers a timeless antidote to anger. His reflections in " Meditations " are not lofty abstractions but grounded, personal reminders to himself on how to live with clarity, restraint, and compassion. For Marcus, anger was not a sign of strength but of imbalance—a fire that consumes more than it illuminates. 🌩️ The Storm Within: Understanding Anger Marcus Aurelius saw anger as a natural impulse—but one that must be examined, not indulged. In Meditations 11.18, he outlines a series of strategies to overcome anger, which he calls “ gifts from the Muses and Apollo .” These include: Recognising our shared humanity “We were born for cooperation,” he writes. Just as hands or eyelids work together, so too must people. When others act unjustly, it’s often out of ignorance, not malice. Remembering impermanence Life is fleeting. The things that provoke us today will soon be dust. Why waste p...
