aspirations, and his ideal world is as superior to that of Plato as his actual world is inferior to the
Athens of the fifth century.
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius begin by acknowledging his indebtedness to his grandfather,
father, adopted father, various teachers, and the gods. Some of the obligations he enumerates are
curious. He learned (he says) from Diognetus not to listen to miracle-workers; from Rusticus, not
to write poetry; from Sextus, to practise gravity without affectation; from Alexander the
grammarian, not to correct bad grammar in others, but to use the right expression shortly
afterwards; from Alexander the Platonist, not to excuse tardiness in answering a letter by the plea
of press of business; from his adopted father, not to fall in love with boys. He owes it to the gods
(he continues) that he was not brought up too long with his grandfather's concubine, and did not
make proof of his virility too soon; that his children are neither stupid nor deformed in body; that
his wife is obedient, affectionate, and simple; and that when he took to philosophy he did not
waste time on history, syllogism, or astronomy.
What is impersonal in the Meditations agrees closely with Epictetus. Marcus Aurelius is doubtful
about immortality, but says, as a Christian might: "Since it is possible that thou mayst depart from
life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly." Life in harmony with the
universe is what is good; and harmony with the universe is the same thing as obedience to the will
of God.
"Everything harmonizes with me which is harmonious to thee, O Universe. Nothing for me is too
early or too late, which is in due time for thee. Everything is fruit to me which thy seasons bring,
O Nature: from thee are all things, in thee are all things, to thee all things return. The poet says,
Dear city of Cecrops; and wilt not thou say, Dear city of Zeus?"
One sees that Saint Augustine's City of God was in part taken over from the pagan Emperor.
Marcus Aurelius is persuaded that God gives every man a special daemon as his guide--a belief
which reappears in the Christian guardian angel. He finds comfort in the thought of the universe
as a closely-knit whole; it is, he says, one living being, having one substance and one soul. One of
his maxims is: "Frequently consider the connection of all things in the universe." "Whatever may
happen to thee, it was prepared for thee from all eternity; and the implication