“From what they say and I remember of my natural father: integrity and manliness”

– Marcus Aurelius, Mediations 1:2

• Marcus’s natural father was Marcus Annius Verus, a politician.  He died when Marcus was three.
• “Manliness” — ugh. I don’t even know what that means. I think there’s a lot to learn from the meditations, but its important to always keep in mind that it was written by the emperor of a misogynistic, slave-owning society.