Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121 – 17 March 180 AD) was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus’ death in 169. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers. Marcus Aurelius’ Stoic tome Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration.
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it–always.”
“Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.”
~ Mahatma Gandhi ~
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I have read and highly recommend the autobiography of the greatest non-violent revolutionary who ever lived: Mahatma Gandhi. The book is FREE in 25 languages at this website:
Mohandas Gandhi — 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.
Personally, I spent many years of my pre-retirement business career in the “branding” industry. What I observed from this kind of work sickened my soul. I finally quit, and resolved that being a “starving artist” is infinitely more gratifying than being a “corporate whore”, regardless of the paycheck.
My clients were corporations who wanted to influence people to pay money to buy their product or service. Usually, any method, trick, gimmick, lie, and covert strategy that money can buy is acceptable in corporate “marketing”. However, “transparency” or “truth” are NOT acceptable. The bigger and more powerful the corporations, governments, etc., , the less “truth in advertising”, is allowed. It’s a kind of unwritten law like “never let the other team know your game plan”, (or your true intentions). Corporate marketing is an “us” against “them” of mind-control game. A “brand” is an artificially contrived “false facade” of “acceptable lies”. On Wall Street, and in corporations and governments it’s all, and only, about money and power. No rules apply.
The following video investigates the subject of transparency in advertising, a talk given by Morgan Spurlock (who revealed that “McFoods” do NOT decay in his film “SuperSize Me“, and are, therefore, NOT food.)
Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121 – 17 March 180 AD) was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus’ death in 169. He was the last of the Five Good Emperors, and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers. Marcus Aurelius’ Stoic tome Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration.
