Meditations

by Marcus Aurelius, George Long (Translator)

Meditations is a personal diary written by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It was written primarily as a source of personal guidance and philosophical reflection for the emperor himself, but its lasting impact and widespread popularity have made it one of the great works of Stoic philosophy. The book is divided into twelve books, each consisting of short reflections and musings on various aspects of life, such as death, the meaning of existence, human relationships, and the nature of the universe. Throughout the book, Marcus emphasizes the importance of living a virtuous life, detached from worldly distractions and focused on wisdom, justice, and fortitude. He encourages readers to cultivate a serene state of mind, accepting whatever happens and focusing on what is within one's control. In addition to its philosophical insights, Meditations is also notable for its portrayal of Marcus as a Stoic philosopher-king. It provides a unique glimpse into the mind and values of one of the most powerful leaders in Roman history and reveals the central role that Stoicism played in shaping the emperor's character and worldview. The work continues to be widely read and studied by scholars and general readers alike, and it is considered one of the foundational works of Western philosophy.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Classics

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2023

About the author

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise") was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 161 to his death in 180. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the more important Stoic philosophers. His two decades as emperor were marked by near continual warfare. He was faced with a series of invasions from German tribes, and by conflicts with the Parthian Empire in the east. His reign also had to deal with an internal revolt in the east, led by Avidius Cassius.

Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its "exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness."

Reviews

[Vaishnavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's not about meditation. It's a personal journalling by the author.

[Chandrayan Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read, the first of its kind that I have read. It contained snippets of advice given by the legendary Roman emperor-philosopher to, well, himself, presumably, since the book mentions its contents were never intended for public use.

As a historical document, it is beyond ratings. But I am rating it on an overall basis, accounting for the actual advice itself.

Aurelius was a renowned Stoic philosopher, and it shows, since some of his advice is a bit too strong, like suppressing all emotion, and even suppressing imagination itself. Emotional suppression has disastrous effects on our mental health, and imagination is one of the main factors behind the rise of civilization.

Then there is the fact that, intentional or not, his first descriptor of his wife as 'obedient', stated with great approval, is a bit distasteful.

The advice itself is repetitive as well, with the same theme being pushed over and over.

Then there was the language, which was convoluted and occasionally obtuse and required multiple readings sometimes to understand what was intended to be said.

All that said, most of the advice was clear, well-articulated, and, above all, useful. Aurelius was a good man, or at least tried to be, and it shows. His advice has a wonderful humanistic, altruistic streak, while still pushing the reader to realize the best version of themselves. Aurelius clearly possessed great intelligence, and swaths of wisdom, and I would recommend everyone read this book at least once.

If nothing else, the thought that I was holding in my hands a collection of writings penned by a man who lived two millennia ago, when the world itself was not as it is today, was somehow both humbling and thrilling.

[Ciaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the easiest read, nor one that resonated with me, but I'm glad I read it all the same. For the anxious types like myself, there are some good ideas in here like focusing on what you can control vs what's out of your hands. However, I can't honestly say much more. Maybe you'll get more out of it than I did.

[anil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compendium of profound quotes.

[Vish · Rating 3 out of 5]

slow but worth it

[Jordan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. the notes add a lot but aren't the easiest things to make sense of. I'll definitely be rereading Marcus' words for years to come!

[Veronica Zerrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Translated by Gregory Hays who, in 2015 was at the U. Of Virginia. I would suggest Marcus Aurelius (Emperor of Ancient Rome) be read by anyone who is in or aspires to leadership.

Written from the perspective of a practicing Stoic, Aurelius observes the world he operated in collecting what he considered to be best practices and rules for him to live by. Words like compassion, understanding, justice, gravitas, duty, devotion appear often in this book and can serve as a reference guide for leaders who want to get better at leading people.

Leaders lead by pulling better performance out of people. Anyone can be a boss by being pushy and carping. Be a leader. Not a boss.

[Jennice Mckillop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of old philosophical writings. Takes a lot of focus and rereading a sentence to get the gist of what’s being said. But in the targeted audience, this was generally some great advice.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it so much changed my life