Marcus Aurelius

George Long

"Meditations" is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from second century, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the Meditations as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. The Meditations is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Marcus' life. A central theme to Meditations is the importance of analyzing one's judgment of self and others and the development of a cosmic perspective. The style of writing that permeates the text is one that is simplified, straightforward, and perhaps reflecting Marcus' Stoic perspective on the text.

Philosophical Contemplations of a Roman Emperor

Meditations

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To Rusticus I am beholdin (...) that I never by way of ostentation did affect to show myself an active able man, for any kind of bodily exercises

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Completion is determined by that being who caused first your composition and now your dissolution. You have no part in either causation. Go then in peace: the god who lets you go is at peace with you.

The closer to control of emotion, the closer to power. Anger is as much a sign of weakness as is pain. Both have been wounded, and have surrendered.

A slave running from his master is a fugitive. Law is our master: the law-breaker is therefore a fugitive. But also in the same way pain, anger, or fear denote refusal of some past, present, or future order from the governor of all things – and this is law, which legislates his lot for each of us. To feel fear, then, pain or anger is to be a fugitive.

Pick me up and throw me where you will. Wherever I land I shall keep the god within me happy –

If the choice is yours, why do the thing? But if it is another’s choice, what do you blame – atoms or gods? Either is madness.

The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing, in that it stands ready for what comes and is not thrown by the unforeseen.

Soon you will have forgotten all things: soon all things will have forgotten you.

Happiness is a benign god or divine blessing.

Everything material rapidly disappears in the universal substance; every cause is rapidly taken up into the universal reason; and the memory of everything is rapidly buried in eternity.

Does the sun presume to do the work of the rain-god, or Asclepius that of the goddess of harvest? And what of each of the stars? Is it not that they are different, but work together to the same end?

Death is relief from reaction to the senses, from the puppet-strings of impulse, from the analytical mind, and from service to the flesh.

Some things are hurrying to come into being, others are hurrying to be gone, and part of that which is being born is already extinguished. Flows and changes are constantly renewing the world, just as the ceaseless passage of time makes eternity ever young. In this river, then, where there can be no foothold, what should anyone prize of all that races past him?

Not understanding someone else’s feelings is okay, but it’s your job to understand yourself.

Marcel

Failure to read what is happening in another's soul is not easily seen as a cause of unhappiness: but those who fail to attend to the motions of their own soul are necessarily unhappy.

...But nature has set limits to this too, just as it has to eating and drinking, and yet you go beyond these limits, beyond what you need. Not in your actions, though, not any longer: here you stay below your capability.         

The point is that you do not love yourself – otherwise you would love both your own nature and her purpose for you.

In all this murk and dirt, in all this flux of being, time, movement, things moved, I cannot begin to see what on earth there is to value or even to aim for. Rather the opposite: one should console oneself with the anticipation of natural release, not impatient of its delay, but taking comfort in just these two thoughts. One, that nothing will happen to me which is not in accordance with the nature of the Whole: the other, that it is in my control to do nothing contrary to my god and the divinity within me – no one can force me to this offence.

I am made up of the causal and the material. Neither of these will disappear into nothing, just as neither came to be out of nothing. So every part of me will be assigned its changed place in some part of the universe, and that will change again into another part of the universe, and so on to infinity. A similar sequence of change brought me into existence, and my parents before me, and so back in another infinity of regression. Nothing forbids this assertion, even if the universe is subject to the completion of cycles.

Think of the whole of existence, of which you are the tiniest part; think of the whole of time, in which you have been assigned a brief and fleeting moment; think of destiny – what fraction of that are you?

Your mind will take on the character of your most frequent thoughts: souls are dyed by thoughts.

What is death? Someone looking at death per se, and applying the analytical power of his mind to divest death of its associated images, will conclude then that it is nothing more than a function of nature – and if anyone is frightened of a function of nature, he is a mere child. And death is not only a function of nature, but also to her benefit.

...and at all times awaiting death with the glad confidence that it is nothing more than the dissolution of the elements of which every living crea ture is composed. Now if there is nothing fearful for the elements themselves in their constant changing of each into another, why should one look anxiously in prospect at the change and dissolution of them all? This is in accordance with nature: and nothing harmful is in accordance with nature.

But what in any case is everlasting memory? Utter emptiness.

There is a river of creation, and time is a violent stream. As soon as one thing comes into sight, it is swept past and another is carried down: it too will be taken on its way.

You are a soul carrying a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.

How to live a better life. One of the most important books on Western philosophy - a powerful and inspirational guide for the complicated world of today 'Refreshing and restorative' GUARDIAN 'An ancient work of spiritual reflection which remains a powerful reminder of how we could live a more dignified life by avoiding deceit, vanity and greed' OK MAGAZINE Few ancient works have been as influential as the MEDITATIONS of Marcus Aurelius. Filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behaviour, it remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Marcus's insights and advice - on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others - have made the MEDITATIONS required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style. In Gregory Hays's translation Marcus's thoughts speak with a new immediacy. Never before have Marcus's insights been so directly and powerfully presented.

Fascinating that something written 2000 years ago could seem so applicable to this day. A valuable piece of literature when interested in stoicism. 

I found a lot of it served as reminders, not so much a lesson.

Liam Richardson

Fascinating that something written 2000 years ago could seem so applicable to this day. A valuable piece of literature when interested in stoicism. 

I found a lot of it served as reminders, not so much a lesson.

Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

If you open a random page of the book, you'll still find a profound statement written in there. The book really is filled with that much wisdom. I don't recommend binge-read this, because this should be a book where you ponder on every chapter one by one.

catto fishu

Filled with short passages of Stoic wisdom

It is amazing to have access to an emperor's private notes. I should have expected the repetition and discontinuity, but I was a bit bored at some points.

I now have a more well-rounded understanding and respect for Stoicism. Yet strangely, my biggest takeaway is an exposure to a self-critical form of journalling/note-taking.

Joe Zimet

Filled with short passages of Stoic wisdom

It is amazing to have access to an emperor's private notes. I should have expected the repetition and discontinuity, but I was a bit bored at some points.

I now have a more well-rounded understanding and respect for Stoicism. Yet strangely, my biggest takeaway is an exposure to a self-critical form of journalling/note-taking.

Packed with wisdom, although a bit overhyped in my view. Learning something specific will take you longer reading the whole thing front to back than getting a second POV on the stance of the author regarding a specific subject. 

Julian Paul

Insightful and calming. Helped me get into a more peaceful headspace and be able to look at the world in a more hopeful and detached way. The kind of book I’d like to reread as I get older.

Angeline Bien

Christian Bager Bach Houmann

It was quite the experience to dive into the thoughts of Marcus Aurelius, and comparing them to the modern ways of thinking and then seeing how true they still stand truly astound me.

Solid thinking and so impressive to see just how little has changed about the human condition since 2000 years ago.

The book itself though is a bit tough to read, with no real sense of progression

PG Gonni

Solid thinking and so impressive to see just how little has changed about the human condition since 2000 years ago.

The book itself though is a bit tough to read, with no real sense of progression

Ghofran Mustafa 

I felt like this book chose me not the other way around..

Frank Huang

Reiza H

Kind of a hard book for me since I had some difficulties to understand some of the words.

But I’m so glad I finished it. I learn to understand Stoic’s perspectives of Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor, one of the most powerful people in those times, that even an emperor can think clearly of his mortal life, contemplate it, and even wrote a book as a note to himself (he never intended to publish it.)

For about 200s pages of this book, The Emperor comes back to life, teaching me about the nature of life, how it’s not important to think about one’s judgement other than your own, to do everything with a purpose in mind, to be more closer to God, and to be at peace with your own mind and soul.

This book is almost over 2000 years old and yet, the topics he addressed is still as important as it was back then. Topics about life, consciousness, purpose of life, and death, is an everlasting topics. It’s still as relevant, to look into a stoic’s mind, almost 2000 years ago.

A historical gem and great intro to stoicism. Lost a star for repetitiveness that couldn’t really be helped due to the medium, but it was rough to keep reading about this guy repetitively try to make himself feel better about mortality as well as having a slave owner keep talking about things have a natural order (including slavery)

something to come back and read every now and then

robert preswick

Tanner Christensen

I find myself returning to Meditations from time-to-time as the years pass, and it always gives me a feeling of rejuvenation, a reminder of enlightenment. Aurelius' words are as timeless as they are impactful. He reminds us, in so few words, how to live not only a good life, but a fulfilled life. One of purpose, passion, and virtue.

There are many translations which do a poor job of executing Aurelius' work, but the gist of the lessons are simple enough to make it through (if you can get over the terrible formatting, i.e. Kindle).

Reihan Maulana

"Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius is a journal where Aurelius may have documented his experiences, including difficult days, to help control his mind. He journals everything he can think of that he’s grateful for. His thoughts on the impermanence of life, the importance of self-discipline, and the pursuit of inner tranquility are insightful. 

For me, it's a little hard to read, but I managed to get through it. "Meditations" is one of my favorite philosphy books because when I read it, I always get the impression of a mind diligently trying to work things out, rather than that of a master philosopher who already has all the answers.

matej yangwao

Amor Fati. Memento Mori. 

“The only thing over which we have total control in life is our own behavior and how we react to other people's actions.”

Offers a modern translation of the Roman philosopher's journal.

The Meditations

Mitch Stewart

This is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. I read it in paperback and highlighted everything I thought was wise and useful for me in life, I ended up needing to buy a new pack of highlighters. A MUST READ.

A read a passage a day kind of book. I carry a copy on me.

Jacob Medure

I could relate to some meditations and even annotated a lot of quotes and even though I do love repetitions in literature this time it felt kinda tiring. I connected with the book but just not wholly, I love the stoic philosophy but unfortunately I’m just not that unbothered peaceful person. 

Yalin Tsikun

I found myself re-reading sections of this during a particularly hard week. it left such an indelible impression on me

Xin Ma

'Their icy blasts are refreshing and restorative. They tell you the worst. And having heard the worst, you feel less bad' Blake Morrison Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the emperor struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. While the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation and encouragement, Marcus Aurelius also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and readers throughout the centuries. Translated with notes by MARTIN HAMMOND with an Introduction by DISKIN CLAY

Penguin Classics

C. J. Daley 

I think this is one of the coolest things ever that in 2020 I can not only read something written by a Roman emperor, but can also listen to the audio recording of the translation. I’ve read that these were his own musings, that he never intended them to be published, so in that sense I give him/it even more credit. However, this was (one of?) the first (?) of it’s kind and it lead pretty obviously to the genre of self-help books which are my absolutely enemies. It is in that sense that this falls short for me. Regardless if you’re a philosopher-emperor or a modern celebrity or self-made millionaire, I just genuinely don’t care for it.

Gavin

In a sense, people are our proper occupation. Our job is to do them good and put up with them.

Have you ever read a book that's been so transformational, that you didn't want to reach the end of it? This was that book for me. It's full of timeless wisdom that will positively influence the way you think.

Matthew Royal

A lot of food for thought. Marcus Aurelius kept repeating himself that that which does not harm the whole cannot harm the part. This is demonstrably untrue, but I understand his purpose in meditating on the end of one's life and the return of your body's matter to the "universe." Definitely will re-read this in a few years to see if I have a better handle on his purpose.

A major new translation of one of the most influential and admired books of the ages--the wisdom and advice from the Emperor of Rome, 161-180 A.D.--includes a new introduction.

Meditations Philosophical Contemplations of a Roman Emperor

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