Marcus Aurelius
The Philosopher King
Intro
Emperor by profession and philosopher by way of life, Marcus Aurelius was an influential figure in second-century Rome.1 Aurelius searched for answers to metaphysical and ethical questions, such as: how can we achieve happiness?; how can I be a good person?; what is my purpose?2
We have been able to gain insight into his reflections on these topics through his only - but incredibly well-known - published text, Meditations. As Meditations is made up of compiled notes and personal ruminations, the text gives readers a direct insight into the brilliant mind of the ancient Roman philosopher. The quotes and passages that make up Meditations divulge his stoic philosophy and can help guide us down a path toward happiness and inner peace.
Sometimes referred to as the “most quotable philosopher” due to his eloquent writing style that sparks vivid imagery and one-liners that stick in people’s minds, Aurelius's philosophies continue to resonate with us today.1
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.
- Aurelius, in his published work Meditations.3
About the Authors
Dan Pilat
Dan is a Co-Founder and Managing Director at The Decision Lab. He is a bestselling author of Intention - a book he wrote with Wiley on the mindful application of behavioral science in organizations. Dan has a background in organizational decision making, with a BComm in Decision & Information Systems from McGill University. He has worked on enterprise-level behavioral architecture at TD Securities and BMO Capital Markets, where he advised management on the implementation of systems processing billions of dollars per week. Driven by an appetite for the latest in technology, Dan created a course on business intelligence and lectured at McGill University, and has applied behavioral science to topics such as augmented and virtual reality.
Dr. Sekoul Krastev
Dr. Sekoul Krastev is a decision scientist and Co-Founder of The Decision Lab, one of the world's leading behavioral science consultancies. His team works with large organizations—Fortune 500 companies, governments, foundations and supernationals—to apply behavioral science and decision theory for social good. He holds a PhD in neuroscience from McGill University and is currently a visiting scholar at NYU. His work has been featured in academic journals as well as in The New York Times, Forbes, and Bloomberg. He is also the author of Intention (Wiley, 2024), a bestselling book on the science of human agency. Before founding The Decision Lab, he worked at the Boston Consulting Group and Google.
Kira Warje
Kira holds a degree in Psychology with an extended minor in Anthropology. Fascinated by all things human, she has written extensively on cognition and mental health, often leveraging insights about the human mind to craft actionable marketing content for brands. She loves talking about human quirks and motivations, driven by the belief that behavioural science can help us all lead healthier, happier, and more sustainable lives. Occasionally, Kira dabbles in web development and enjoys learning about the synergy between psychology and UX design.
