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

Sijvert

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

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.

Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Frank Huang

The mind, unconquered by violent passions, is a citadel, for a man has no fortress more impregnable in which to find refuge and remain safe forever.

PG Gonni

Ognuno di noi contribuisce in modi diversi, alcuni con azioni positive, altri con critiche e tentativi di contrasto. Evidentemente, il cosmo ha bisogno anche di individui che si oppongono a certi eventi. Quindi, devi capire da che parte vuoi schierarti. Colui che governa l'universo farà comunque buon uso di teeti accoglierà come suo collaboratore e coadiutore, sia in un ruolo che in un altro. Ma non prendere un ruolo come quello del personaggio inutile e ridicolo nel dramma, di cui parla Crisippo.

Chi ha compreso il presente ha compreso tutto, sia ciò che é esistito da sempre sia ciò che esisterà per sempre. Tutto condivide una radice e una natura comuni.

Cè anche chi, in un certo senso, non è nemmeno consapevole delle sue azioni, ma agisce come la vite che produce il grappolo e, una volta raggiunto il risultato, non cerca altro - come il cavallo dopo una corsa, il cane da caccia dopo aver lavorato per scovare la preda, o l'ape dopo aver fatto il miele. Un individuo che ha agito bene non sente la necessità di vantarsene, ma passa ad altre azioni, proprio come la vite continua a produrre frutti quando è stagione.

Eppure, quando si appassionano, questi individui sono disposti a rinunciare a mangiare e dormire pur di vedere crescere l'opera a cui si dedicano: tu invece sembri attribuire meno valore e meno attenzione alle azioni volte al bene della comunità?

Invece di pensare: "Sono sfortunato, mi è capitato questo", dovresti dire: "Sono fortunato, perché al perché nonostante mi sia capitato questo, sto resistendo senza provare dolore. Non permetto al presente di spezzarmi, e non temo il futuro."

… abituati a pensare che la natura ama soprattutto trasformare ciò che esiste per creare nuove cose che gli somiglino. Infatti, tutto ciò che esiste è in qualche modo il seme di ciò che diventerà.

Tuttavia, è fondamentale notare che anche l'attenzione dedicata a ogni singola azione ha un suo valore e una sua misura appropriata. Non dovresti sentirti depresso solo perché dedichi troppo tempo a cose di minore importanza.

Quanto è grande il numero di animali che vengono mangiati e, in un certo senso, seppelliti nei corpi di coloro che li consumano? Eppure, c'è spazio sufficiente per accoglierli grazie alla loro assimilazione nel sangue, alla loro trasformazione in elementi aerei o ignei.

Primo: le cose esterne non toccano la tua anima, i turbamenti derivano solo dalle opinioni che si formano al suo interno. Secondo: tutto ciò che vedi è destinato a cambiare e scomparire. Pensaci costantemente, rifletti su quante cose hai visto trasformarsi di persona. Il mondo è mutevole, la vita è basata sull'opinione.

Le spighe che si curvano verso il terreno, la fronte rugosa del leone, la bava che cola dalle fauci dei cinghiali e molte altre cose: se osserviamo singolarmente, possono sembrare poco attraenti, ma proprio perché sono il risultato di eventi naturali, contribuiscono a rendere il mondo più bello e affascinante.

La morte, la vita, la fama, l'oscurità, il dolore, il piacere, la ricchezza e la povertà colpiscono allo stesso modo le persone buone e cattive, poiché non hanno intrinsecamente valore morale. Non sono né beni né mali.

…chi non presta attenzione ai movimenti della propria anima è destinato a essere infelice.

La vita è un'opportunità preziosa, ma tu sembri averla quasi sprecata, cercando invece la felicità nelle opinioni altrui.

Quando parliamo o scriviamo una lettera a qualcuno, evitiamo di dire spesso e senza una ragione valida "non ho tempo', e non dovremmo costantemente delegare i nostri doveri nelle relazioni con chi ci circonda sostenendo che siamo oberati da impegni.

Ho sviluppato la disponibilità a riavvicinarmi e riconciliarmi con chi si è irritato o ha mancato nei miei confronti, non appena decide di tornare sui suoi passi.

Lukas

The Spartans at their public shows set seats for strangers in the shade, but sat themselves where they found room.

Yourself a slave, your speech cannot be free

“Thou art a poor soul, saddled with a corpse,” said Epictetus.

Lloyd Humphreys

"Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?"

"How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it."

In one of the world's most famous and influential books, Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius describes the stoic precepts he used to cope with his life as a warrior and ruler of an empire. Beautiful hardcover edition of a specially modernized version of the classic George Long translation.

Mihai Nueleanu

This definitive annotated translation of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations is an insightful look into the mind of Ancient Rome's sixteenth emperor. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121-180 CE) was the sixteenth emperor of Rome—and by far the most powerful man in the world. Yet he was also an intensely private person, with a rich interior life and one of the wisest minds of his generation. He collected his thoughts in notebooks, gems that have come to be called his Meditations. Never intended for publication, the work has proved an inexhaustible source of wisdom and one of the most important Stoic texts of all time. In often passionate language, the entries range from one-line aphorisms to essays, from profundity to bitterness. This annotated edition offers the definitive translation of this classic and much beloved text, with copious notes from world-renowned classics expert Robin Waterfield. It illuminates one of the greatest works of popular philosophy for new readers and enriches the understanding of even the most devoted Stoic.

The Annotated Edition

nattie

 is a one-of-a-kind look into the inner thoughts of one of the most powerful men of his time. Marcus Aurelius never intended anyone else to read this, and thus it reveals about him something no one else was supposed to know, and there is something beautiful in that. 

This is such a great work because of how practical Marcus' philosophy truly was. It shows us the importance of humility, empathy, and remaining steadfast in a chaotic world. 

It is certainly a stoic outlook on life, but one I believe everyone can resonate with in one way or another. Overall, an important read, even if lacking in a 'climax' or usual story beats. Before anything, it is the sparse notes of a troubled man trying to make sense of the world like we all still do all these years later.

Justin Goins

If nothing else, Meditations is a one-of-a-kind look into the inner thoughts of one of the most powerful men of his time. Marcus Aurelius never intended anyone else to read this, and thus it reveals about him something no one else was supposed to know, and there is something beautiful in that. 

This is such a great work because of how practical Marcus' philosophy truly was. It shows us the importance of humility, empathy, and remaining steadfast in a chaotic world. 

It is certainly a stoic outlook on life, but one I believe everyone can resonate with in one way or another. Overall, an important read, even if lacking in a 'climax' or usual story beats. Before anything, it is the sparse notes of a troubled man trying to make sense of the world like we all still do all these years later.

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.

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

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..

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.

Meditations Philosophical Contemplations of a Roman Emperor

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