Gateway to the Stoics: Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, Epictetus's Enchiridion, and Selections from Seneca's Letters

by Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Seneca

The one book you need to master stoic philosophy!

This classic collection, newly revised and with a foreword by classicist Spencer Klavan, includes the famed original introduction by Russell Kirk, the full text of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius , the complete Enchiridion of Epictetus, and key selections from Seneca and Hierocles of Alexandria in one compact volume.

Genres: Philosophy

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 10, 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

[Phillip Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great question of how to live our limited life spans is what is the best philosophy of living. Stoics have an answer to that and it is live by four virtues: Justice, truth, temperance, and fortitude. Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Stoic emperor who is listed as a favorite philosopher by many celebrities and other new followers. Stoics believe Reason is a great moral compass but I disagree since evil can be rationalized to seem just. My belief is that it is human sentiments of compassion and love that guide us from being cruel. There are many good points to Stoicism like the four virtues but you can't beat a good heart to show us the way.

[Josiah Smallwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here are some highlights and personal notes that I recorded in my notebook!

Meditations, Book II: "Thou must now at last perceive of what universe thou art a part,...and that a limit of time is fixed for thee, which if thou dost not use for clearing away the clouds from thy mind, it will go and though wilt go, and it will never return."
-I've got only one life, and I don't want to spend it in anguish. I don't want that for anyone. So I advise anyone who feels like every day is pain to get the help they need and do whatever they can to live a life filled with joy.

Meditations, Book VI: "Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good."
-What are you going to do so that when death comes for you, you'll be fine with it?

Meditations, Book XI: "...that to expect not to do wrong is madness, for he who expects this desires an impossibility."
-Maybe it'd help to see evil actions and desires as a natural consequence of humanity's free will. Not to make light of them, but to better manage what we believe of them and how those beliefs affect us.

Meditations, Book XI: "Socrates used to call the opinions of the many by the name of Lamiae, bugbears to frighten children."
-Don't care about what others think of you. You're the only person you'll be spending the rest of you're life with, so prioritize self-love. It may take a long time for them to see, but eventually people will recognize your worth and what you contribute. Until that time comes, you recognize it for yourself.

The Enchiridion, or Manual, VIII: "Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life."
-Frustrating stuff happens. For me, it might be a sudden task at work or an annoying bit of barking from the dog. But it's easier to go through when I accept it's happening.

The Enchiridion, or Manual, XX: "Remember that it is not he who reviles you or strikes you, who insults you, but it is your own opinion about these things as being insulting. When then a man irritates you, you must know that it is your own opinion which has irritated you. Therefore especially try not to be carried away by the appearance."
-That last sentence is very important in the age of social media. And if I hear someone sneer at me...I ought to think of it in terms of, "That person feels that they must put others down to make themselves feel better..." This shifts the mindset from anger to sympathy.

This book was a great introduction to Stoicism! I'm glad I picked it up!

[Elise · Rating 2 out of 5]

A movie we were watching discussed Marcus Aurelius, so I checked this out from the library to read. It is a selection of his writings, as well as some from Epictetus and Seneca. It was enormously influential, and embodies a certain view of the world, some of which I agree with, and some not. It seems to be a series of statements and platitudes, so it doesn't really flow and is better suited for dipping into rather than reading straight through

I agree that life is transitory, and a certain level of acceptance of "what is" is necessary to go through life. But at different times he seems to say that you should respect what others think (if you admire them) but other times he states that you should be independent from all others and only look to yourself and your sense of what's right to make decisions. Another time, he says that even seeking out beauty in nature or art is unnecessary, because you should always be looking within your own spirit for beauty.

In the introduction, a scholar states how the stoics influenced Christianity with the idea that all men are brothers rather than supporting the hierarchical order that some men are better than others. But then the scholar makes the leap that we are all brothers because of a god which is our father, rather than realizing the idea that the creator / father figure is not necessary to recognize brotherhood.

Anyway, this was enough to give me a flavor of Marcus Aurelius and I'll be turning it back into the library shortly.

[Brett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was like "why is the font so huge and both the forward and introduction make these boldly fawning historically questionable statements on Christianity?" Then I found out this was published by a politically conservative press. Ewww, grooooooooossss.

[Lynn Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome