Aurelius used Stoic principles to remain calm and objective while managing the constant pressures of war and the Antonine Plague.

Aurelius never intended to publish the text; the title Meditations was added by later editors to describe his personal notes to himself.

Meaning "remember you must die," this practice was used by Aurelius to maintain humility and ensure his daily actions were meaningful.

Stoicism posits that while external events are indifferent, we maintain agency by choosing how we interpret and react to them.