Meditations · Part 2, The day’s work · Idea 7 of 12

Don’t Get Dyed Purple

Marcus Aurelius on not letting power change you. From Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, about 175 AD.

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A painting for Don’t Get Dyed Purple

Where it comes from.

In 138, the emperor Hadrian arranged for the teenage Marcus to join the imperial family. It put him on the path to the throne.

One ancient life of Marcus says the news appalled him more than it pleased him. Asked why, he listed the evils that come with power.

Soon he was told to move into the palace. He went, against his wishes.

3 more screens in the appThe rest of the story, and where it turns up in your own week.
The idea in short

Marcus Aurelius was appalled, one ancient life says, when he was set on the path to the throne in 138. As emperor he warned himself not to be dyed purple, the emperor’s color, and to stay simple, just and kind. In 169, rather than raise taxes for the wars, he auctioned palace treasures for two months.

Wear the title, but don’t soak in it. Practical advice: after a promotion, keep one old habit that has nothing to do with rank.

Well established · checked against 6 sources

Make it yours.

Make it your step

Have lunch this week with someone who knew you before your title.

Ask your council

“Since my promotion, my old friends at work treat me differently. How do I stay the same person?”

Sources.

  1. The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, translated by George Long, Marcus Aurelius (Project Gutenberg), 1862The text
  2. Historia Augusta: The Life of Marcus Aurelius, translated by David Magie, Historia Augusta (LacusCurtius), 1921The text
  3. Marcus Aurelius, Wikipedia, 2026
  4. Marcomannic Wars, Wikipedia, 2026
  5. Marcus Aurelius, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2026
  6. Tyrian purple, Wikipedia, 2026

Meditations, in 12 ideas.

  1. 1
    Take Back the VerdictMarcus Aurelius on why the hurt is in your judgment, not the thing
  2. 2
    The Retreat InsideMarcus Aurelius on finding quiet in your own mind
  3. 3
    Use the RoadblockMarcus Aurelius on turning what blocks you into help
  4. 4
    You Can Only Lose TodayMarcus Aurelius on why the present is the only thing you can lose
  5. 5
    Get Up for the WorkMarcus Aurelius on getting out of bed when you don’t want to
  6. 6
    Stop Debating, Be ItMarcus Aurelius on being good instead of talking about it
  7. 7
    Don’t Get Dyed PurpleMarcus Aurelius on not letting power change you
  8. 8
    Look Down From AboveMarcus Aurelius on seeing your worries from a height
  9. 9
    Expect the ShamelessMarcus Aurelius on dealing with people who behave badly
  10. 10
    Don’t Become What Hurt YouMarcus Aurelius on the best kind of revenge
  11. 11
    List Who Made YouMarcus Aurelius on naming what you owe to each person
  12. 12
    Kindness Can’t Be BeatenMarcus Aurelius on why sincere kindness is hard to defeat
PreviousStop Debating, Be It
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Don’t Get Dyed Purple and the other 11 ideas of Meditations, a minute at a time.

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Every idea is drawn from the public-domain text, and its names, dates and quotes are checked against the sources listed with it. The paintings are made for Counsel; they show the scene, not a historical record.

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