“Run down the list of those who felt intense anger at something: the most famous, the most unfortunate, the most hated, the most whatever: Where is all that now? Smoke, dust, legend…or not even a legend. Think of all the examples. And how trivial the things we want so passionately are.”Marcus Aurelius
In modern life, we often find ourselves getting consumed by intense anger or desire over trivial matters like traffic jams or social media feedback. When we take a step back and reflect, we realize that our strong emotions are fleeting and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. For example, when you feel frustrated about a delayed flight, remember that in a year from now, this moment will likely be forgotten, emphasizing the insignificance of the intensity of your current emotions.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
The verse in Ecclesiastes highlights the transient nature of things on earth, reminding us that our intense emotions over trivial matters will eventually pass. This aligns with the Stoic principle of Wisdom, which encourages us to reflect on the impermanence of external events and not allow them to disturb our inner peace.