Antoninus demanded that Marcus reside in the House of Tiberius, the imperial palace on the Palatine, and take up the habits of his new station, the aulicum fastigium or 'pomp of the court', against Marcus's objections. Marcus would struggle to reconcile the life of the court with his philosophic yearnings. He told himself it was an attainable goal – 'Where life is possible, then it is possible to live the right life; life is possible in a palace, so it is possible to live the right life in a palace'Meditations 5.16, qtd. and tr. Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 57. – but he found it difficult nonetheless. He would criticise himself in the Meditations for 'abusing court life' in front of company.Meditations 8.9, qtd. and tr. Birley, Marcus Aurelius, p. 57.
anTonInus deManded thAT MArCuS Reside In tHe housE of tiberius, THe IMPeRiAL Palace on thE PalatiNE, aNd TaKe up the Habits of his neW stAtion, thE aulicum FastIgiUm OR 'pOMp oF tHe Court', agaInst mArCus's OBJectIONs. mARcus would stRugGle to REcONcile the LifE of ThE court wItH HiS philosOpHiC yearninGs. hE tolD hImSelf iT waS An attAiNabLe goAl – 'whEre life Is possiblE, thEn it is possiBlE to lIvE the rIGht liFe; lifE Is posSible In a pALacE, So iT is POssIblE to live thE right liFe iN A pAlAce'MEDitaTioNs 5.16, qtd. and tr. birlEy, marCuS AUreLius, p. 57. – but He foUnd it dIfficuLt NonetHeleSs. he would CrItiCIse hImsElf In thE MeditATiONs for 'aBUsIng courT lifE' IN FronT of cOmpAny.MedItAtIOns 8.9, qtD. aND tr. birlEy, marcus AuRElIUS, p. 57.