I

April   4th

DON’T   LET THIS    GO  TO  YOUR    HEAD

“Make   sure    you’re  not made    ‘Emperor,’  avoid   that    imperial    stain.  It  can happen  to  you,    so  keep

yourself    simple, good,   pure,   saintly,    plain,  a   friend  of  justice,    god-fearing,    gracious,

affectionate,   and strong  for your    proper  work.   Fight   to  remain  the person  that    philosophy  wished

to  make    you.    Revere  the gods,   and look    after   each    other.  Life    is  short—the   fruit   of  this    life    is  a

good    character   and acts    for the common  good.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS,   MEDITATIONS,    6.30

t is difficult even to conceive of what life must have been like for Marcus Aurelius—he wasn’t born
emperor, nor did he obtain the position deliberately. It was simply thrust upon him. Nevertheless, he
was suddenly the richest man in the world, head of the most powerful army on earth, ruling over the
largest empire in history, considered a god among men.
It’s no wonder he wrote little messages like this one to remind himself not to spin off the planet.
Without them, he might have lost his sense of what was important—falling prey to the lies from all the
people who needed things from him. And here we are, whatever we happen to be doing, at risk of
spinning off ourselves.
When we experience success, we must make sure that it doesn’t change us—that we continue to
maintain our character despite the temptation not to. Reason must lead the way no matter what good
fortune comes along.