Meditations Freedom and Confinement Quotes

Marcus is giving props to his family and tutors, who shaped his personality and thinking. It's clear that from the beginning, the idea of personal and political freedom is a high priority for Marcus. It seems unusual that a Roman emperor would be interested in such democratic ideals, but make no mistake: Marcus believes in personal liberty, but within a hierarchy. The scala naturae, or the natural hierarchy of things in the universe, reinforces a belief that lower beings are meant to serve and obey those beings of a higher order.

Marcus often speaks of death as something to be welcomed rather than feared, since its immediate effect is to free us of the things that held us back on earth. Note the language of slavery used in the metaphor of the soul and the body. For Marcus and other philosophers, there is a sharp divide between two, with the soul representing a purer, higher existence and the body an earthly, inferior one. Death sets right the unnatural relationship that exists on earth, where the inferior body is often the master of the soul.

Marcus is talking about how essential it is for people to free themselves from dependence on things. Though earthly things (like wealth, prestige, etc.) are often considered "goods," they are not good for the liberty of a human being. The argument here is a bit circular: Marcus tells us that these things are not good because we believe that those who don't possess them are good. At any rate, he means to say that the theoretical value system may be right, even though we crave possessions and fame.

Marcus wants to impress on himself the value of leaving behind the usual earthly desires and behaviors (like reacting to sense impressions, bowing to impulse, gathering goods) so that he can remain a disinterested and independent human being. If this is too abstract, think about this in modern terms: living without the newest iPhone or laptop, not being connected all the time—that would be good for Marcus. How does it make you feel when, suddenly, your electronics are gone? You know you feel withdrawal. Marcus is warning against just this kind of thing. We can't be free if we are dependent on ephemeral things and not on our inner principles.

The goal of Marcus's notes to himself, you could say, is to set him on the path to freedom and self-sufficiency. Sure, he's Emperor of Rome, but we can see that he's struggling with the same things that any human being might: the desire for a good reputation, tranquility, success. He has to remind himself that all these desires disturb the natural calm of the mind, which wants only to remain independent and happy inside its own little world. Marcus has to work hard to protect his inner freedom from "colonization" from worldly concerns.

Marcus highlights the little war going on between the internal and external as well as between the body and soul in each human being. If the mind is to survive and prosper, as it should, it needs to create a fortress—something to wall it off from the body and keep out the concerns that shouldn't be there. In this sense, the mind is abandoning the body to its own proper concerns, like whether or not it is in distress or feels pain. This is a core tenet of the Stoic philosophy.

Though he is emperor, Marcus seems pretty intent on remaining humble and ever-willing to learn from those who have greater wisdom. He's a good student. In this case, he tells himself that he's not giving up power or shackling himself in any way if he can admit that he's wrong about something. It's also an act of will to choose to be corrected and to change your ways. And that's always a good thing, since every action of the mind should be focused and deliberate.

Marcus and others make much out of the image of the mind as fortress or calming retreat. It's essential for a person to remain free from the concerns of the external world—otherwise, he or she will become shackled by things like expectation, concern for reputation, and desires for worldly things. When life becomes too overwhelming, Marcus tells himself that a vacation is nothing compared to the benefits of moving inward and examining all the good philosophical doctrines he has stored in his memory. Not our idea of a good time, but we can see the value in having a strong internal support system in place.

Marcus values freedom and independence above all things because he believes that humans were created at the very top of the earthly hierarchy of beings; therefore, they are closest to the gods in likeness. If you're going to have that kind of privilege, you've got to embrace it through your behavior. Behaving as a tyrant (a real threat in the life of an emperor) or acting like a hedonist degrades this dignity.

Marcus is refuting the idea that prayer is not effective and that the gods have no power or inclination to help humanity. In the passage above this one, Marcus also advises on what it is best to ask for when praying: freedom from things that will enslave the mind (like fear, dependence, regret). Taken together, we can see that Marcus is most interested in a healthy relationship with divinity—which includes knowing when to pray and what to ask for.

Keep your eyes open with this one, because Marcus is doing some mental gymnastics here. In this case, he says that all freedom isn't good. Men must always remember that there are rules to follow if they are going to be free. A paradox, we know. But the person who succumbs to prideful boasting of his or her freedom from the gods and the principles of philosophy, in Marcus's eyes, has become enslaved in sin.