[One Thousand Characters a Day] Aurelius' "Meditations" <1>

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Starting today, we introduce by Marcus Aurelius, the 16th emperor of the Roman Empire and a philosopher. Aurelius, who loved discussing philosophy and contemplating from a young age, accumulated knowledge across rhetoric, philosophy, and law, becoming a philosopher of the Stoic school, which holds that all worldly affairs are determined by cosmic reason, or 'Logos.' However, after ascending to the throne, the Roman Empire faced economic and military crises, and was struck by the plague that caused the highest death toll in ancient history. Despite these internal and external hardships, he strove to maintain equanimity and ruled with tolerance, earning recognition as an 'emperor who demonstrated excellent leadership amid adversity.' This translation is by humanities scholar Kim Dong-hoon, who studies Western classics. Character count: 992.

Each living being is guided by the purpose for which it was created. Self-completion lies where one is led. Where one’s goal exists, there is individual benefit and goodness. As rational animals, goodness means living together. It has long been proven that we were born to live together. Is it not clear that the weak tend toward the strong, and the strong toward each other? Living beings are stronger than non-living things, and living beings with reason are stronger than those that merely exist.

To pursue the impossible is madness. It is impossible for a bad person not to do bad deeds.

Originally, no one experiences what they cannot endure. If the same thing happens again at another time, it is because the person is unaware of what happened to them or endures it without harm. It is strange that ignorance and submission are stronger than wisdom.

Things themselves neither touch the mind nor can enter it, nor can they change or move the mind’s direction. Only the mind can turn or move itself. That things are given to the mind means the mind judges their value.

Even if something trips you up, if you remove it with reason and change direction, your motives and character will not be disturbed. Block out all oppressive distractions and turn your direction toward the object of reason. Obstacles become aids in achieving your goal, and barriers on the path become means to open the way.

Revere the supreme power of the universe. It utilizes and controls all things. Likewise, revere the supreme power within you. What is within you is of the same kind as that of the universe, and this power leads your life by using other things within you.

What is not harmful to the city-state is not harmful to its members. Whenever you feel you have suffered loss, apply this principle: if it did not harm the city-state, it has not harmed me.

- Aurelius, , translated by Kim Dong-hoon, Minumsa, 13,000 KRW