Examining the Puzzling but Powerful Opening to Book 2 of Meditations

Book 2 of Meditations starts off in a puzzling way. But there’s a powerful message hidden within this powerful passage.

Book 2 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius starts in a puzzling but ultimately very powerful way.

I mean, Meditations in general starts off kind of weird, especially for the first time reader.

In Book 1, Marcus lists out the people in his life, what they taught him, and why he is grateful for them. It ultimately shows what a humble and grateful man Marcus was (traits not normally found in Roman Emperors), but it’s an unusual way to start a book of philosophy.

Things get even more puzzling when you get to Book 2. We are now finally stepping into the personal thoughts and philosophy of Marcus Aurelius, and we’re greeted with a puzzling passage.

Here it is in it’s entirety (from the Gregory Hays translation):

“When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer…