calmness of
The Choice of Hercules and
“citizens of the universe” attributed to
on death as prankster
execution of
on external goods
history of philosophy and
inconclusiveness of
Marcus’s admiration for
Memorabilia (Xenophon)
as model of virtue
moderation of
on moderation and self-control
modern applicability of
on pain
on paradox that nobody does wrong willingly
on philosophers
on Sophists
students of
on the unexamined life
on vice and human imperfection
on virtue
Socratic irony
Socratic questioning
sophistication
Sophistry
Marcus’s education and
Second Sophistic
Socrates on
Stoicism compared with
See also rhetoric
Spinoza
Stilpo
Stoa Poikile (“Painted Porch”)
stoicism
Stoicism
beliefs
cardinal virtues and
The Choice of Hercules and
cosmopolitanism (citizens of the universe) and
counterrhetoric of
Cynicism compared with
death and
emotions and
good, bad, and indifferent external things
history of
language and
learning cycle of
philosophy (love of wisdom) and
sociability of human nature and
Sophistry compared with
Stoic acceptance
Stoic Fork (Dichotomy of Control)
Stoic mindfulness
Stoic Opposition
Stoic Sage
therapy of the passions
virtue as only true good
stress
post-traumatic stress disorder
public life and
transactional model of
workplace
stress inoculation
sunkatatheseis (assent)
Telemachus
temperance. See also moderation
ten gifts from Apollo
Tertullian
tetrapharmacum (fourfold remedy)
Themistius
therapeia (psychological therapy)
Thrasea
time projection
Titus Aurelius Antoninus
toga virilis (toga marking passage to adulthood)
tribôn (single-garment cloak or shawl)
truth
Twelve Labors of Hercules
value judgments
anger and
cognitive distancing and
decatastrophizing and
emotions and
fear and
language and
objective representation and
pain tolerance and
reason and
Stoic self-awareness and
wisdom and
values clarification
desired vs. admired list
Verus, Publius Martius
Vettius Sabinianus
Victorinus, Aufidius
Victorinus, Furius
View from above (Stoic technique)
virtue
cardinal virtues
Greek aristocratic view of
as its own reward
Socratic philosophy on
See also courage; justice; moderation; wisdom
Vologases IV
Warrior Resilience Training
wisdom (prudence)
appearance of
as cardinal virtue
The Choice of Hercules and
cleverness compared with
cognitive distancing and
core values compared with
death and
decatastrophizing and
definition of
emotional resilience and
forms of
Freemasonry and
intrinsic value of
joy and
language and
love of
of Marcus
morning meditation and
reason and
reason for exercising
of role models
social sphere and
Socratic philosophy and
Sophists and
Stoicism and
Zeno on
worry. See anxiety and worry
worry postponement
Xenophon
Memorabilia
Zeno of Citium
The Choice of Hercules and
on external goods
Galen on
Handbook of Rhetoric
history of Stoicism and
as model of virtue
phantasia kataleptike (objective representation)
scholarchs
on wisdom
OTHER TITLES BY DONALD ROBERTSON
The Philosophy of Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy: Stoic Philosophy as Rational and Cognitive Psychotherapy (2010)
The Practice of Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy: A Manual for Evidence-Based Clinical Hypnosis (2012)
Build Your Resilience (2012)
Stoicism and the Art of Happiness (2013)
Enroll in the free e-learning course:
learn.donaldrobertson.name/p/roman-emperor
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DONALD ROBERTSON is a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, trainer, and writer. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and after living in England and working in London for many years, he emigrated to Canada, where he now lives. Robertson has been researching Stoicism and applying it in his work for twenty years. He is one of the founding members of the nonprofit organization Modern Stoicism. You can sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Introduction
1. The Dead Emperor
THE STORY OF STOICISM
2. The Most Truthful Child in Rome
HOW TO SPEAK WISELY
3. Contemplating the Sage
HOW TO FOLLOW YOUR VALUES
4. The Choice of Hercules
HOW TO CONQUER DESIRE
5. Grasping the Nettle
HOW TO TOLERATE PAIN
6. The Inner Citadel and War of Many Nations
HOW TO RELINQUISH FEAR
7. Temporary Madness
HOW TO CONQUER ANGER
8. Death and the View from Above
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Other Titles by Donald Robertson
About the Author
Copyright
HOW TO THINK LIKE A ROMAN EMPEROR. Copyright © 2019 by Donald Robertson. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover photographs: Marcus Aurelius © Heritage Images/Getty Images; hand © Gilmanshin/Shutterstock.com; earbuds © M-Thanaphum/Shutterstock.com.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-19662-0 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-19663-7 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250196637
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First Edition: April 2019