Reflect often how all the life of today is a repetition of the past; and observe that it also presages what is to come. Review the many complete dramas and their settings, all so similar, which you have known in your own experience, or from bygone history: the whole court-circle of Hadrian, for example, or the court of Antonius, or the courts of Philip, Alexander, and Croesus.
The performance is always the same; it is only the actors who change.
Meditations - Book 10 no. 27
Marcus Aurelius
'That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.'
'. . . after 45 years of research and study the best advice I can give people is to be a little kinder to each other.'
Aldous Huxley
Thank you for this post Gwil. I needed something like this today when I am feeling a bit down. It has helped.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pat. I can see how this would help. The rainbow was on the floor of the cathedral in Pisa. I climbed the 217 steps to the top of the bell tower and arrived there at the stroke of midday. My ears took a bashing, until I had the sense to cover them with my hands. With temperatures of 35 Celsius every day we sought out the lovely cool churches!
DeleteBe yourself.
ReplyDeleteFirst to thine own self be true . . . Polonius.
DeleteYou are a bit fond of Marcus Aurelius, aren't you? There is much wisdom to be heard, old and new because the same wisdom goes down the lines of humanity and we pay attention or not. Being kinder and true to yourself, makes it easier to be kind and true to others, yes, love thy neighbour as thy self. So the picture is taken in Pisa? Amazing. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThe stoics have much to teach us and Aurelius is their prophet. I'm listening to my cd of celestial thunder and drinking a beer. Earlier I met with my friend from Ethiopia. Yesterday I went to see Elektra. Last week in Florence I met my Italian friend, actually he's an Etruscan, and we ran together along the Arno. Life is good to me. I trust 100% my inner voice and the power of synchronicity. I didn't always. That was my earlier mistake.
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