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Clever_Mercury t1_j6bpy3i wrote

Something that might help others to know, Marcus Aurelius likely suffered from severe depression in his early years, particularly as a ruler. That's partly what led him to stoicism, the philosophy he is now famous for. He had to frequently go out on campaigns, traveling around with the military when he was, at heart something more like an academic or lawyer.

He overcame his sense of emptiness and reconciled himself to what he saw as his duty by studying human behavior. His journals and writings are fascinating.

I'm not saying people can (or should) try to heal themselves with motivational posters, but I do think it helps to know people in the past struggled too and that they found journaling, talking, and exploring human behavior helpful. Maybe that can be inspiring.

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StowinMarthaGellhorn t1_j6cw2ny wrote

I read his writings every morning before I meditate. These two practices have transformed my life this last year. Got me graciously through a divorce after a ten year marriage and have vaulted me in my career. His work is amazing.

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studentofarkad t1_j6df687 wrote

Any particular writing you recommend? u/StowinMarthaGellhorn

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LeYellowFellow t1_j6dim0o wrote

Not too familiar with other stoic writing, but I assume she’s referencing Meditations by Aurelius, which is his personal journaling and the most popular piece of stoic literature

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EazyPeazyLemonSqueaz t1_j6dndlp wrote

If you get meditations just be sure to get the easy-to-understand translation and not one that sounds like Shakespeare. Unless reading old English is your thing.

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jay212127 t1_j6dr8fs wrote

This sounds kind of funny as it isn't even trying to read the originals like one would for Shakespeare (a literary purist)

If you aren't reading Aurelius in Latin there is little point in not getting a good modern translation.

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StowinMarthaGellhorn t1_j6dxxdx wrote

You can start with Meditations, but Ryan Holiday has a great book called the Daily Stoic that gives you daily excerpts from the Stoics along with brief explanations and reflections.

I read the Daily Stoic first, and then read Meditations, as well as some works by Epictetus and Seneca.

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trumpbuysabanksy t1_j6e73tn wrote

Please share

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StowinMarthaGellhorn t1_j6gkpm4 wrote

You can start with Meditations, but Ryan Holiday has a great book called the Daily Stoic that gives you daily excerpts from the Stoics along with brief explanations and reflections.

I read the Daily Stoic first, and then read Meditations, as well as some works by Epictetus and Seneca.

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Averander t1_j6aldvh wrote

Marcus Aurelius, so ahead of his time that he's still ahead of the times.

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spermbanks t1_j6aiexm wrote

For a man that lived centuries ago, his thoughts and ideas certainly still hold weight in the modern age.

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BrobdingnagLilliput t1_j6bftq1 wrote

Circumstances change, but human nature hasn't changed one iota throughout recorded history.

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CyclopicSerpent t1_j6bg6il wrote

He isn't so much ahead of his time as we have been the same for centuries.

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[deleted] t1_j6cimvl wrote

[deleted]

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mythrocks t1_j6d9t6p wrote

Perhaps it is the short form presentation of Aurelius’s ideals that you find off putting. Consider watching this lecture for more context:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Auuk1y4DRgk

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eldartalks t1_j6dqkpl wrote

No chance you talk like that in real life. Do you think we’re in some Ancient Roman tabernacle right now? This is Reddit. A website. You’re likely wearing Adidas and boxers. God damn. Insufferable on here.

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mythrocks t1_j6h2tuf wrote

You are likely to find how I speak insufferable as well. At least, in your current frame of mind.

Whatever it is that caused you to lash out at something so innocuous, I sincerely hope you’re able to put it behind you.

The irony here is that this is over a post about Stoicism. :]

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Blackshirts98 t1_j6dov0e wrote

Having the context of when these rules were written and under what circumstances would surely change your mind. It’s easy for them to seem cheesy in this format

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[deleted] t1_j6dqchq wrote

[deleted]

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Blackshirts98 t1_j6driw6 wrote

Well Aurelius himself didn’t even consider himself a philosopher. He viewed himself as a man trying to live virtuously and learn about the world. Many people find comfort in his writings and feel it helps give them purpose. They were written 2000 years ago but many people still relate to them today.

And I’m curious who thinks this makes them deep or complex? I don’t see anyone here lauding that. I also don’t know anything about YouTube “manfluencers” or anything like that but if they are getting people to quit drinking in excess and exercising then I can’t see the harm.

If someone did laugh at peoples liking of Meditations then so be it.

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zoobrix t1_j6amykb wrote

I like how 9 and 10 are essentially saying you should try and be nice even if the person is an asshole but there are limits. Some people are just psychos and will never stop fucking with you no matter what because that's what they enjoy doing, don't bother trying to be nice to those people, it won't make any difference.

Very, very true.

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VeGr-FXVG t1_j6c27qa wrote

> don't bother trying to be nice to those people

I don't think it's saying that; it says to accept their nature but says nothing about giving up on being compassionate. I think 10 is necessary before you can do 9: before you can treat people with an invincible kindness you have to accept that you have no other action (as the other action is tyrannical).

I think stoicism fundamentally is about the process not outcome: we're not kind because we want to change people (outcome), we're kind because that's the only course of action we accept as legitimate. Yes, we might change people, but that's not why we do it.

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The_Vat t1_j6ash4h wrote

Number 6 - maintain control of your emotions.

This is so, so important. Your emotions are deliberately targeted to manipulate and exploit you.

You can't control how you react emotionally to something, but you can control how you respond.

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NewDad907 t1_j6ad7w4 wrote

Getting someone to understand that they “choose” to allow others to upset then is incredibly difficult.

Most people do not understand that they can choose their reactions. They fully believe in the “you MADE ME FEEL…”

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SamGewissies t1_j6cfwof wrote

It's a hard balance though. Feeling something initially is good, blocking that feeling alltogether can be detrimental. However, after that initial feeling it is up to the individual what to do with it.

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L_knight316 t1_j6dqat0 wrote

Stoicism isn't about blocking feelings, it's about being consciously aware of what you're feeling, why you're feeling it, and reacting to it in the way that fits your ideals and morals rather than acting on impulse

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SamGewissies t1_j6dsar4 wrote

I don’t know a lot about stoicism, so I did not intend this to be a critique on it. Merely a response to the previous commenter. It sounds like stoicism aligned with my views if you put it it like that.

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braveabandon t1_j6cirl7 wrote

In my experience those people that believe that have a lot more problams than just that

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849 t1_j6d0zqw wrote

Action-reaction vs action-cognition-reaction

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STARSBarry t1_j6a146q wrote

Number 7 is one many people seem to have issues with. But we people here on Reddit and Twitter are hardly good leader material.

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moosenugget7 t1_j6bn6f2 wrote

IDK about that one… those Germanic tribes Marcus Aurelius conquered and killed sure didn’t want to be hurt. Not sure that did them much good.

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Muninwing t1_j6djqn7 wrote

Pretty sure it’s not weighing in on physical violence, but emotional harm…

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[deleted] t1_j6ayrcx wrote

[deleted]

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SnooHobbies8473 t1_j6b9195 wrote

>Good old Mark. A shame his son murdered him.

Yep. A good emperor. Too bad his son was a psycho. ( were there any Roman Imperial families that weren't dysfunctional?)

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Orangeb0lt t1_j6bb5x0 wrote

They ate food exclusively cooked in lead pots...so no, they all had a lot of crazies.

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FreyrPrime t1_j6cwp0h wrote

It’s one of the better examples of the dangers of Nepotism..

I saw a statue of good ol’ Commodus last time I was in Rome. He was depicted as Hercules, as was apparently his thing…

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control9 t1_j6bshpf wrote

Sounds like Mark should have adhered to #7 and not let his son hurt him

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trumpbuysabanksy t1_j6e7pbz wrote

Most people have the most co-dependent tendencies with their own children.

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jdub2005 t1_j6d3wsd wrote

Good point. I didn’t get that one. Maybe it’s because he was emperor so he thought nobody could hurt him unless he let them. That may have made his crazy son want to hurt him even more.

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ASK_IF_IM_PENGUIN t1_j698h3d wrote

That last one is a lesson the West should have learned about Putin a long time ago.

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Ubermenschen t1_j69nje7 wrote

And about themselves. We're super into tearing things down right now, not so much about actually building anything.

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[deleted] t1_j6ar6q0 wrote

[deleted]

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jindog t1_j6b5w4o wrote

What he is saying agrees with that...there is no way to change Putin, he is bent on destruction, so you cannot believe that any kindness or correction would result in a change in his actions.

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pedestrianpinniped t1_j6a3uwx wrote

Not sure I understand what you are trying to say here, no one is trying to change Putin, we are responding to what he is doing. Are you saying we should just abandon all the former soviet states to him?

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zman0313 t1_j6ajcly wrote

Eh I think some apologists who empathize with putins perspective do this. Thinking he just needs to be treated well by the west to reform. Even if his grievances are justified, he will never trust the west and will never cooperate. The days for that have passed

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ASK_IF_IM_PENGUIN t1_j6bv6u0 wrote

No, I'm saying the opposite. The West shouldn't have expected him to behave towards us any differently than he treats anyone else.

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pedestrianpinniped t1_j6bzv9x wrote

I'm still not getting it, Putin obviously treats the West different than others, way more hostility and paranoia, way less success at bullying. No one that's been paying attention for the last 20 years is particularly surprised that Putin's gonna Putin, but it is surprising to see him drop the ball this hard.

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IronDBZ t1_j6cp23r wrote

Marcus Aurelius was such a fluke, in the history of Rome, lasting over a thousand years, you can count on one hand the number of Emperors with this level of moral and philosophical clarity.

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pab5737 t1_j6authz wrote

I like that 4 is the liver king lol

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Anustart_A t1_j6alxbs wrote

Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations is impeccable

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jeffzor t1_j6anl32 wrote

Might be the best stoicism poster I've seen. Cool!

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Upstairs-Afternoon27 t1_j6fk211 wrote

#10 stuck out to me and it’s so true. People that are willing to do bad things to other people will do it to anyone so don’t expect to not be part of that “anyone”. Bad things can and will happen to everyone throughout life and you just have to live with it no matter what hits you.

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itsyourlife247 t1_j6ejgsf wrote

This is pure gold! Thank you for posting!

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Vaeevictisss t1_j6b1ngz wrote

Number 9 can get you shot depending the situation.

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SeaworthyWide t1_j6b42fs wrote

This is a nice addition to my copies of 48 Laws Of Power, Art Of Seduction, and Machiavellis Prince!

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trucorsair t1_j6bnja4 wrote

One of the few posts here that are really not open to serious criticism or critique. Number 7 is my favorite

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Coheed_SURVIVE t1_j6bsad5 wrote

I recognize Marcus Aurelius (#1), Nero(#5), Caligula(#6), and Joaquin Phoenix(#10)

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BuckRogers87 t1_j6bsgr7 wrote

Bought his meditations book and have yet to get around to it. I’ve really been meaning to and this definitely puts it on the next to read list.

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AdorableNinja t1_j6c1f5o wrote

He is so meta. Thank you for sharing.

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Matchbreakers t1_j6cj4cd wrote

Too bad he forgot rule 11. “Don’t give commodus increased influence and power when he clearly doesn’t follow your ideals”

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BestLifeAhead t1_j6dghhm wrote

Really great post! Thanks for sharing!

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Sir_Lok1 t1_j6axosc wrote

9 and 10 contradict each other, no?

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TheInvisibleJeevas t1_j6bpo3c wrote

Being kind and being vulnerable are not the same thing. Sometimes the best kindness is to protect others from someone else’s destruction.

It also doesn’t say that being kind means trying to change someone or giving them the benefit of the doubt.

That’s how I see it, anyway.

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braveabandon t1_j6cjgb3 wrote

Nah. Its like be nice, but dont be a fool or a victim. If someone is a douche to others, dont expect them to treat you differently once they inevitably get triggered by some perceived or imagined wrong they blame you for.

You can be kind, but you must also enforce your boundaries. Thats part of having self respect. And you can gently but firmly throw a criminals ass in jail where they cant harm anyone else. (Jail is still a kindness, compared to the execution they might deserve.

Being kind isn't the same as being a doormat.

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Pags4272 t1_j6bka5z wrote

TIL Mel Gibson was mindful of others' humanity

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Zorn277 t1_j6c6b8s wrote

His solutions for dealing with the Germans were pretty final...

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[deleted] t1_j6cbbl5 wrote

For the second I don't agree with Marcus In politics you don't need to be mindful humans

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eldartalks t1_j6cim9e wrote

Lol manosphere alert, Adin Ross incoming

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snausagerolly t1_j6cmyd7 wrote

The second picture looks like Mel Gibson

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freifickmuschimann t1_j6d29va wrote

  1. If your wife cheats on you with a gladiator have them summoned to have sex in front of you, then have the gladiator executed while on top of her and proceed to finish the job he started by having sex with her while covered in his blood. Gladiator blood is an aphrodisiac, or whatever.
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addicuss t1_j6d8f0c wrote

I love the Mel Gibson cameo on #2

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Josehelfs23 t1_j6ddumi wrote

Op, can I use this poster and translate it into Portuguese and post it?

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kuroninjaofshadows OP t1_j6dg3q8 wrote

This isn't my original content, I'm not sure if this is copyrighted. I think you should be safe though, as these quotes are quite old.

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L0nd0ns t1_j6djz6h wrote

Anyone have the source the this image? I love it.

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Kattekop_BE t1_j6at0uy wrote

alternative title: 10rules perants and bosses in general do not care about

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Adaesemus t1_j6cxxna wrote

#11. Embrace nepotism and hand over rule to your incompetent son at the end of your reign, breaking the long held tradition of choosing an Emperor based off merit. Then said son can usher in the beginning of the end of Rome, but don’t worry you wrote some philosophical shit, so history will gloss over this and talk about what a great leader you were.

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BigNorseWolf t1_j6bydvi wrote

Generally good ideas, but hard disagree on number 7.

I mean, you can largely decide how you react or not. You can walk away, blow them off, or punch them in the face. But peoples control over their thoughts is kind of limited.

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pdieten t1_j6c4jlw wrote

The fact that you say this means that you do not yet understand Stoic philosophy. Because you absolutely do have the ability to control your thoughts. Learning to manage and redirect your instant reactions is the object of this philosophy.

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Not_aSpy t1_j6dgmim wrote

Not to mention modern cognitive Behavioral therapy, one of the most broadly effective treatments for lots of mental health issues, is all about teaching people how to have more control over their own thoughts. Those skills aren't easy but they are so beneficial.

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BigNorseWolf t1_j6c577g wrote

I think this is bullshit is not the same as I don't understand it.

It might in fact, be bullshit.

And if you have to ad hom like that, I have even less reason to believe you have any other substance.

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braveabandon t1_j6cjuhy wrote

If you practice meditation, you will discover it is actually true. It doesn't even take that much to gain those benefits.

The feelings will dissolve without having to be reacted to. Eventually you are just observing the feelings without them consuming you or controlling you, and they can pass very quickly.

The more you meditate, the faster and easier it becomes, and the stronger the feelings you can allow to dissolve.

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Blackshirts98 t1_j6dq1r8 wrote

It’s like a muscle. If you don’t actively try to use it it will never strengthen and you will live thinking it impossible.

Stoicism doesn’t call for the absence of emotion. We all feel emotions and that’s a good thing. Stoicism calls for not letting our emotions guide our decision making. When you make a choice angry vs when you make a choice feeling neutral what’s likely the better choice? Realize your emotions and understand them, but don’t let them control you

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BigNorseWolf t1_j6f3bo8 wrote

Blackshirt, you're not disagreeing with me. Try reading it again.

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ionertia t1_j69ti2e wrote

Any evidence that he actually said these? Or a reason why anyone should invest their time reading this?

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Just2brosHelping t1_j69u2ng wrote

There is a book called Meditations that he wrote. I don’t think he ever made a list but these are all things he said.

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dickbutt_md t1_j6a4ta6 wrote

>Any evidence that he actually said these? Or a reason why anyone should invest their time reading this?

Yes to both! Thanks for asking. (If it's not clear, I'm practicing #9 in this response.)

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ionertia t1_j6crrhn wrote

I couldn't find any. I wouldn't read any of these unless I know they weren't written by some unknown.

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kuroninjaofshadows OP t1_j69vkln wrote

You can read them, evaluate if the messages are useful to you, or not. I like to revisit this list every so often in order to make sure I am being a good leader, not just a manager. I find it helpful, perhaps you will too.

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ionertia t1_j6crnic wrote

I wouldn't want to waste my time with potentially misattributed quotes.

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juliankennedy23 t1_j6au84v wrote

Well there's a famous diary he wrote that has all these in there I mean come on.

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L_knight316 t1_j6dqqux wrote

He wrote journals on his meditations on life for himself. It's literally called Meditations

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Suyefuji t1_j69yh50 wrote

Republicans would call him a socialist antifa plant

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MajorMustard t1_j6ac0kt wrote

Can we please, have one reddit post without this kinda shit?

The world used to be so much less political and was so much better for it.

Yes politics is important, you don't need to bring it into everything.

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