Did Marcus Aurelius say Kindness is More Manly Than Anger?

What the most famous Stoic philosopher actually said about masculinity

Donald J. Robertson

Jan 18, 2024

Transcript

In this episode, I briefly discuss what Marcus Aurelius said about masculinity, and how it might differ from what some modern self-improvement influencers say, despite their claims to be influenced by Stoicism.

A statue of Marcus Aurelius on the Capitoline Hill in Rome.

Highlights

The resurgence of Stoicism and the manosphere
Stoic philosophy versus being “stoic”
Marcus Aurelius’ enemies accused him of being unmanly
Marcus’ mother and father’s influence
The influence of Emperor Antoninus Pius
What Marcus says about manliness and anger
Marcus sums up manliness in one of his favourite slogans: “Upright, not set upright.”

Links

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Discussion about this podcast

Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life Podcast

Donald Robertson, the author of "How to Think Like a Roman Emperor", and a cognitive-behavioral therapist, talks about how to apply Stoicism in the modern world, discussing philosophy, psychology and self-improvement with guests from all walks of life. Available on Google and Apple podcasts.

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