Important life lessons, courtesy of a Roman emperor

Marcus Aurelius' Meditations stands the test of time

Marcus Aurelius
(Image credit: (Adam Woolfitt/Corbis))

One way to rise in the world is to learn from others. While there is no way to avoid making mistakes, you can learn to make fewer mistakes. Learning from others will save you a lot of misery over a long life.

That's one of the reasons I'm making friends with the eminent dead. Few things seem wiser than exploring the vast knowledge that's already been recorded and tested through time.

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Shane Parrish is a Canadian writer, blogger, and coffee lover living in Ottawa, Ontario. He is known for his blog, Farnam Street, which features writing on decision making, culture, and other subjects.