Marcus Aurelius' Meditations 1

Study Guide Questions for Book I

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Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Temperance, Contentment, Humility

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. In what setting was Marcus Aurelius educated?

2. What are at least three things which Aurelius’ mentors (in sections 1-6) taught him to not do?

3. What are at least three things which those same mentors taught him to do?

4. What are at least three things which Aurelius’ mentors (in sections 7-10) taught him to not do?

5. What are at least three things which those same mentors taught him to do?

6. What are at least three things which Aurelius’ mentors (in sections 11-15) taught him to not do?

7. What are at least three things which those same mentors taught him to do?

8. What are at least three things which Marcus Aurelius’ “adoptive father” taught him to not do.

9. What are at least three things which Marcus Aurelius’ “adoptive father” taught him to do.

10. What are at least three things for which Maruc Aurelius said he was “thankful to the gods?”

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. What might be inferred from Marcus Aurelius’ wording in the statement that he learned “from the reputation and remembrance of my father, modesty and a manly character?”

2. Diognetus taught Aurelius, among other things, to “endure freedom of speech.” Why might this have been an important lesson for someone like Marcus?

3. What do you think Apollonius meant by teaching Marcus “to look to nothing else, not even for a moment, except to reason?”

4. What do you understand Alexander the Grammarian’s advice to be concerning the way in which one ought to correct a person who makes a grammatical error?

5. What did Aurelius mean when he said of his brother that “his friends had no need to conjecture what he wished or did not wish, but it was quite plain?”

6. Of Marcus’ adoptive father, the Emperor Antoninus Pius, he said that it was his habit “to check immediately popular applause and all flattery.” Why might this be a good quality in a leader?

7. Of Marcus’ adoptive father, the Emperor Antoninus Pius, he said that “he was a man who looked to what ought to be done, not to the reputation that is got by a man’s acts.” What did he mean by this and why would that be important in a good ruler?

8. Of Antoninus it was said, “that he was able both to abstain from, and to enjoy, those things which many are too weak to abstain from, and cannot enjoy without excess.” What virtue is this a perfect picture of?

9. Why might Aurelius have been thankful to the gods that he “did not make more proficiency in rhetoric, poetry” and other studies that could have drawn his interest had he been better at them?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. Aurelius noted that he learned from his grandfather “not to have frequented public schools, and to have good teachers at home, and to know that on such things a man should spend liberally.” What is the best way to pursue an education? Is it public education, private schools, private tutoring, or some other approach? What are some of the potential pros and cons of these various kinds of education? What do you think you will do for your own children one day and why?

2. Consider Sextus’ lesson to Marcus that he should “tolerate ignorant persons, and those who form opinions without consideration.” Offer a definition for the concept of tolerance. What might be a common misunderstanding of the concept of tolerance? How important is it to have tolerance towards other people? At what point, if any, do you think it becomes appropriate to stop showing tolerance to someone else? Explain your thinking carefully.

3. Aurelius said that he learned from his brother, Severus, “a polity in which there is the same law for all, a polity administered with regard to equal rights and equal freedom of speech, and the idea of a kingly government that respects most of all the freedom of the governed.” Is it possible for the governed and the governors to be held accountable by one and the same law and to have truly equal rights among them? If it is possible, what kind of system of government would need to be in place so as to assure that this actually occurs? If this is not possible, why not?

4. Book 1 of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations is all about gratitude to others and to the gods. Share about one person for whom you are grateful for their influence in your life. Be specific about what you learned from them, either by their direct teaching or by their example.

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Rusticus taught Marcus Aurelius “to be easily disposed to be pacified and reconciled, as soon as they have shown a readiness to be reconciled.” Compare this teaching to Jesus’ own teaching in Matthew 18:21-35 and Luke 17:3-4. Do you think that Jesus’ teaching would affirm Rusticus’ lesson to Marcus?

2. Read Luke 17:11-19. What does this story teach us about the behavior of those who are genuinely grateful?