r/StoicMemes • u/yevelnad • 15d ago

Nihilist vs Stoic

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3.8k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

View all comments

192

u/DanBentley 15d ago

Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.

-Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

24

u/DarthDiggus 15d ago

Damn it, I have that book on my nightstand I have never read it. Is it worth it?

29

u/Significant-Dare-295 15d ago

Read it.

If you’re not a big reader skip the beginning parts. It’s mostly Aurelius thanking and making note of people who had helped him throughout his life.

18

u/BarfingOnMyFace 15d ago

lol you are chilling in StoicMemes, yes dude, definitely read it! 😄

6

u/Mac88uk 15d ago

It's life changing

3

u/ASAProxys 14d ago

It changed my life in ways I didn’t think possible.

3

u/Alastor-Altruist 14d ago

Are you serious? Read that shit

1

u/Ausaur07 12d ago

I lost almost all respect for anything he had to say at the point where he, as an emperor, more or less said people should accept their lot in life. Easy for him to say, and would make ruling a lot more convenient if the commoners would just accept their sucky lives without moaning or rebelling.

That's not to say there isn't some good stuff in there, but he was hard to take seriously after that.

-7

u/decixl 15d ago

Why are you even here?

9

u/xinsanespoonx 14d ago

Because he chose to

2

u/Killeralexxx 11d ago

That is a powerful quote.

2

u/PeanutButtSexyTime 2d ago

Reminds me of the philosopher Spinoza’s concept of Conatus, the positive drive or force within each and every conscious being. First towards ourself, to maximize positivity in our life (without harming any other conscious being, sort of) and then towards everyone around us.

It’s easy to not remember the existence of Conatus, especially in this time and age. But it’s there, find it and use it to make your life and the world better.