The great thing about chivalry and knightly thought is that it can pull from so many sources. From anywhere in the world, any time in the world, there are people and works that exemplify what it means to be chivalrous. Sometimes, the best way to learn for the future is to look far into the past, and that is why I recommend Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations"
To understand some of why this book is such a good reference, it is important to know some about the man himself. Marcus Aurelius was born AD121, and served as the Roman Emperor until his death of natural causes in AD180. Note that it was natural causes. Many of the Roman Emperors were assassinated by their successors, and he is one of the few to live till he died on his own. While he was challenged for authority in his time, the challenger was so disliked that he was murdered by his own soldiers before the battle could even happen. Well liked and revered by his people, he was known as the last of the Good Emperors of Rome.
During his life, Marcus compiled a series of books. He never wrote these books as anything more than a personal guidebook. These books later became his "Meditations" after his death and were published as a work of his ideas and philosophy. The philosophy is based on the views of Stoicism, which is the view that the path to a moral and good life was reached by logic, restraint of emotions (especially negative ones), and careful observation of the world around us.
This collection is not a quick read by any means. it is a collection of 12 books, some as short as a few pages, but some substatially more. But it isn't the length of the books that make it a heavy hitter, it's the content. As a collection of philosophical thoughts, every idea connects to all the others. Some ideas are expressed as a single sentence, some as multiple paragraphs. Sometimes, the same idea is rewritten in another viewpoint to get it across, or emphasize it again.
One of the most central themes through every book is one's judgement of the self, especially as it pertains to the perspective of the universe. By stripping away the ego and opinions of the person, and finding their place in the universe, a person can see the role they play in nature, which shows a perfect example of how people should behave.
Along with this, he advocates discipline of focus and morality as to the success of personal fulfillment. One of the best known quotes from this work, in book 5, is "Put an end to the discussion of what a good man should do, and just be one" By not allowing distractions, such as losing control of emotions or indulgence of the senses, a person can see the more clearly how to live in a moral lifestyle, elevated above what is deemed "good" or "bad"
I, every I've read and re-read this book many times, through many different formats. Listening to the audio version on long car rides, reading a page or two every night and reflecting on it as I go to sleep. It will take quite a while to get through, and sometimes that is because a simple one sentence concept will permeate its way to needing a day or two to finish sinking in. It is a great read for anyone that needs a guidebook, from self help and self motivation, to feeling like you are on the wrong path or needing a centering tool. I recommend this book for anyone and everyone interested in
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