Humility Over Hubris: How Marcus Aurelius Inspires Modern Leadership
Syntopical Review of Meditations: “Be One” – Leadership Lessons from Marcus Aurelius
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
This quote from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations[1] gets right to the point: instead of debating what makes a good leader, simply become one. In today’s world, where leadership advice is everywhere, Aurelius’ direct approach reminds us that leadership is more about action than talk.
If you take a closer look at Meditations, you’ll find that it’s not a traditional leadership book. It’s a series of personal reflections, written by a Roman emperor as he wrestled with the challenges of leading an empire—and himself. Aurelius believed that leadership starts from within, that self-awareness and accountability are foundational. Before you can lead others, you have to get your own house in order. His advice is just as relevant today as it was nearly two thousand years ago.
Brené Brown, in Dare to Lead[2], echoes this idea. Her work is rooted in the belief that true leadership comes from vulnerability, honesty, and personal responsibility. Brown, like Aurelius, encourages leaders to do the hard inner work of understanding themselves, facing their own weaknesses, and leading with authenticity. Leadership isn’t about titles or status; it’s about how you show up every day, and how you hold yourself accountable for your own actions.
Leading by Example, Not Just Theory
One of the key takeaways from Aurelius’ writing is the importance of leading by example. His quote, “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one,” isn’t just a motivational phrase—it’s a clear call to action. Aurelius believed that living out your values is more important than talking about them. This idea runs through modern leadership discussions as well.
In Jesus and the Powers[3], N.T. Wright and Michael Bird examine how Jesus led not by exerting authority, but by living out the principles of love, service, and humility. He didn’t just talk about justice or compassion—he modeled it in everything he did. This form of leadership, based on action rather than theory, challenges the traditional notions of power and influence.
Aurelius, too, lived in a world of immense power, yet his focus wasn’t on control or domination. He constantly reminded himself to act with virtue and humility, knowing that others would follow his example. Today’s leaders, whether in business or politics, often get caught up in strategies or frameworks. But the simple truth is, people respond to what they see. If leaders live out the values they preach, it’s much more effective than any leadership theory.
Ethics and Responsibility in Leadership
Mark LiVecche’s The Good Kill[4] deals with the difficult moral questions of leadership, especially in extreme situations like warfare. His work highlights the ethical dilemmas leaders face when making tough decisions, particularly those with life-or-death consequences. Aurelius faced similar moral challenges as a military leader and emperor. In Meditations, we see his struggle to balance the demands of leadership with his commitment to ethical behavior.
Aurelius didn’t shy away from difficult decisions, but he approached them with a clear sense of responsibility. He knew that power alone wasn’t enough—it had to be guided by virtue. His reflections emphasize the importance of keeping a strong moral compass, even when the choices are hard. Leaders today face different kinds of challenges, but the need for ethical decision-making remains constant.
The same is true in John Poole’s Robot Souls[5], where the ethical implications of artificial intelligence are front and center. As technology evolves, leaders are increasingly tasked with making decisions that affect not just individuals, but entire societies. The complexities may be new, but Aurelius’ approach still holds: focus on what’s right, control what you can, and act with integrity.
The Challenge of Leading in Complex Times
In today’s fast-moving world, leaders are often faced with overwhelming complexity. It can be tempting to look for quick fixes or follow the latest trends in leadership. But, as both Aurelius and Brené Brown point out, leadership doesn’t come from following a formula. It comes from a commitment to personal growth, ethical action, and leading by example.
Brown’s work in Dare to Lead offers a modern take on many of the ideas Aurelius wrestled with. She emphasizes the need for vulnerability, courage, and empathy in leadership—traits that aren’t always easy to cultivate but are necessary for building trust and meaningful connections. Aurelius, too, acknowledged that leadership is hard work. He often wrote about the daily struggle to act with patience, kindness, and self-control, even in the face of stress and adversity.
The message is clear: leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about striving to live out your values every day, even when it’s difficult. Both Aurelius and Brown understand that leadership is more about the process than the destination. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and being accountable to yourself and those you lead.
Stop Debating, Start Doing
So what can we take away from Aurelius’ Meditations and its connections to modern thinkers like Wright, Bird, Poole, LiVecche, and Brown? It all comes back to the quote that started this discussion: “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
In an age where we spend so much time discussing leadership—what it is, what it should look like, how to achieve it—Aurelius cuts through the noise. He challenges us to stop theorizing and start doing. Leadership, whether in ancient Rome or the modern boardroom, is about action. It’s about living out your values, making ethical choices, and holding yourself accountable.
From Aurelius to Brené Brown, the message is consistent: leadership begins with you. It’s not about achieving perfection or having all the answers. It’s about doing the work, every day, to be the kind of leader others can look to as an example. It’s about being the person you aspire to be, not just talking about it.
In the end, the world doesn’t need more discussions about leadership. It needs more people who are willing to step up and live it. Be one.
[1] Aurelius, Marcus. Meditations. Translated by Gregory Hays. New York: Modern Library, 2002.
[2] Brown, Brené. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. New York: Random House, 2018.
[3] LiVecche, Mark. The Good Kill: Just War and Moral Injury. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021.
[4] Poole, John. Robot Souls: Programming in Humanity. San Francisco: TechBooks Publishing, 2019.
[5] Wright, N. T., and Michael F. Bird. Jesus and the Powers: Christian Political Witness in an Age of Totalitarian Terror and Dysfunctional Democracies. London: SPCK Publishing, 2024
About the Author
Mathieu Yuill
While raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens may be a few of Julia Andrews' favourite things, here are a few of mine: Talking to strangers, Learning about what you do for fun, Conversation over coffee. I own a marketing and communications company in Toronto, Canada called Leading With Nice. There are a lot of names I could have given the company but a trusted friend encouraged me to name it that because I really value the humanness in us all. Bah - this is starting to sound like a horrible LinkedIn post. So whatever, let's have coffee. I'd love to hear about what you do for fun!6 responses to “Humility Over Hubris: How Marcus Aurelius Inspires Modern Leadership”
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What a comprehensive, and clear post Mathieu. Well done.
I have no tattoos. None. But, if I were to get one, and I really mean this…I could see myself getting this tattoo on my arm: “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
Because I am an Enneagram Seven, and I try to avoid pain at any cost, I may consider shortening the tattoo to just “Be one.”
I like that. Be one.
Hi Mathieu,
Be one.
I was recently in a zoom meeting where the speaker Dr. Wan focused on relational theology. It was new for me, but one of the things he emphasized was the misconception of “go make disciples.”
Before that happens you have to BE before you Go.
You must BE rooted in a dynamic relationship with HIM before you can move out on the tasks he has set before you.
Although I love “Be one.” I am not getting it tattooed (ala John Fehlen).
Dang. Another good syntopical post Matthiu.
I’ve been thinking about this idea of instead of thinking about doing something, just do it. As I watch my husband start his business I keep thinking that he didn’t “go back to school” to learn how to start a business, he’s just doing it. I, on the other hand, really needed this program to give me the confidence to do the thing.
I guess different people need different things. YOU started a business (did the thing) AND THEN you went back to school (to think about the thing?). I am impressed you can and are doing both.
Mathieu – Great post!
Look at you just syntopically going to town! I am inspired.
You stated “The message is clear: leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about striving to live out your values every day, even when it’s difficult.” Tenaciously being consistent to our values takes grit but it also takes intentionality to know what your values are and why. What are a few of your values?
Hi Mathieu,
You have inspired me to read Meditations! You noted, “He often wrote about the daily struggle to act with patience, kindness, and self-control, even in the face of stress and adversity.” I can’t help but wonder what would happen if more leaders spent more time journaling, reflecting, and meditating on the responsibilities, experiences, and decisions they face as leaders, let alone their internal struggles. It seems Marcus Aurelius was a thoughtful leader who took the time to slow down and consider the kind of man and leader he wanted to be. Thanks for a great post!
I’m learning so much reading everyone else’s posts this week! I had certainly heard of Aurelius before, but I probably couldn’t have told you anything about him. You mention specifically in your post that he frequently wrote about acting out of virtue and humility. I would love to know what humility looked like for him, living in an era so removed from ours and as someone in such a high position of power. I don’t doubt that he was reflecting on genuine humility, I just wonder if it would look like what we think of today.