Lessons Learned. Marcus Aurelius 1.1-2

The first reading comes from the beginning of Marcus Aurelius' Ethical Treatise to Myself (called Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν ἠθικά by the Cappadocian bishop Arethas, who lived and collected many books c. 860-935 CE). The beginning of that treatise, which the Roman emperor Marcus wrote as an adult for himself (and perhaps his son Commodus), is a list of what he learned from different people and circumstances. He begins with family. You can listen to me read this passage <here>.

Παρὰ τοῦ πάππου Οὐήρου τὸ καλόηθες καὶ ἀόργητον.

Παρὰ τῆς δόξης καὶ μνήμης τῆς περὶ τοῦ γεννήσαντος τὸ αἰδῆμον καὶ ἀρρενικόν.


From my grandfather Verus I learned good temper that omits anger.

From the reputation and memory of my father (†), I learned how to express modesty like a man.


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(†) Marcus Aurelius' father was Marcus Annius Verus (III), the son of senator Marcus Annius Verus (II), the grandfather Verus who adopted Marcus upon his father's death and taught him good habits. When Marcus' father died, he held the office of praetor, following in the footsteps of his father, who had been consul twice, and his great-grandfather Marcus Annius Verus (I), who left Ucubi (Ucubis, near Corduba) in Hispania (Spain) to become a Roman senator (see the Historia Augusta).