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    Meditations
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    Meditations
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    Meditations
    Ebook293 pages4 hours

    Meditations

    By Marcus Aurelius

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    About this ebook

    Roman Emperor and Stoic Marcus Aurelius wrote volumes of journals full of personal notes, later translated and published in print for the world to know better this monumental figure, adored by philosophers both ancient and modern.

    Aurelius was the last of the "five good emperors," who governed the Roman world during a time known as "Pax Romana" or Roman peace. It was a time of prosperity, influence, and power, ending less than three centuries after his death with the fall of the empire.

    His meditations give us insightful and surprisingly modern thoughts from a man ahead of his time about stoic views about subjects from government and political duty, to sexuality and addiction, and so much more in-between.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAntiquarius
    Release dateAug 13, 2020
    ISBN9781647982560
    Author

    Marcus Aurelius

    Marcus Aurelius ruled the Roman Empire from 161 to 180 AD. Born to an upper-class Roman family in 121, Aurelius was adopted by his uncle, the emperor Antoninus Pius, in 138. Aurelius studied Greek and Latin literature, philosophy, and law, and was especially influenced by the Stoic thinker Epictetus. After Pius’s death, Aurelius succeeded the throne alongside his adoptive brother, Lucius Verus. His reign was marked by plague, numerous military conflicts, and the deaths of friends and family—including Lucius Verus in 169. Despite these struggles, the Empire flourished under Marcus’s rule as the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an era from 27 to 180 of relative peace and prosperity for the Roman Empire. Aurelius wrote his Meditations as spiritual exercises never intended for publication, and died at fifty-eight while on campaign against the Germanic tribes.

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    Reviews for Meditations

    4/5

    1,497 ratings17 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Very good. A lot of it was over my head, so I wasn't entirely sure of what he was trying to tell me (or himself...) But this is a book I'll read again someday. It is a must for anyone interested in stoicism, or classical philosophy, or becoming the best version of themselves. It is also a great insight into the mind of a very interesting person.
    • 5/5
      The thing that keeps being repeated in this book is don't do bad. Maybe a sign of a guilty conscience, I don't know. It is the theme for this book in any case.
    • 5/5
      The inner thoughts of a Roman emperor. Profound and for some, inspiring. A mournful, yet strong man, philosopher-king, which we don't see too often anywhere.
    • 5/5
      I have read this book a number of times and always gain something new each time I revisit it. Although I find aspects of Stoic thinking quite foreign, there is unquestionably a disciplined and humble mind behind these words. I wish more of our contemporary leaders could muster the courage to be as humble.
    • 5/5
      This is one of the most splendid things that I have ever read. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is full of ideas by which to live, many of which are also highly suitable for printing out and pinning to your office wall. Another reviewer has already quoted my favourite meditation, `Begin each day ...' so I won't repeat it here. Donning my Old Fart's hat I have to say that the world would be an infinitely better place if more people had read this.
    • 5/5
      An important, but oft neglected, work of Graeco-Roman philosophy. Marcus Aurelius was insightful, if not extremely downhearted, and represents some of the finest philosophical thinking of his time.
    • 5/5
      Succinct self-help for the stoic. The introduction in the Modern Library edition sets the historical context well and the translation makes most of the advice read as practical and not overly-repetetive.
    • 3/5
      Remember that you will die soon, Aurelius says, and you will behave properly, without too much concern for glory. After all, anyone who remembers you will also soon die, in the larger scheme of things, and you’ll all be dead much longer than you were alive.
    • 3/5
      Geen filosofisch tractaat ! Wel persoonlijke notities die niet voor publicatie bestemd waren! Vandaar veel herhalingen en soms slordig geschreven. Alleen boek 1 vormt afgewerkt en goed gestructureerd geheel. Interessante passages. Beste introductie tot het stoïcisme. De link met het christendom ligt niet zo voor de hand.
    • 4/5
      "Yes, that's what I think too" was the my main reaction to the book. I missed many references to known figures of Marcus' time, but it would require a book with extensive footnotes to cover all the material. The part I don't quite buy is the living according to nature, because nature is rather hard to define.
    • 2/5
      The end of the Roman culture was marked by spiritual decay. This book reveals the anatomy of parched empire. A necessary but painful read.
    • 2/5
      Hodge podge of truisms by a world leader obviously convinced of his own moral superiority. Is there wisdom in here? Sure, but it is wisdom any intelligent, remotely self reflective, person will already possess.
    • 3/5
      A book to savour. A lot of things that are agreeable. Not originally for publication just Aurelius' private thoughts. Not a lot that I disagreed with.
    • 3/5
      There is something about Marcus Aurelius's brand of Stoicism that appeals to me. His almost simple belief in the power of reason and truth is comforting. His text offers helpful habits of mind that would be appreciated by anyone who values the practice of mindfulness and attention. I can easily see myself coming back to this book later in life.
    • 1/5
      Rated: FOh, I tried. Night after night I would try to digest a few more random thoughts from this stoic Emperor of Rome. I'm not a stoic for sure. Finally gave up about 2/3 through the book. Very few nuggets could I hold up as true in more own life. I rarely give up on a book. Just had to with this one.
    • 4/5
      This book definately left me thinking. It was engaging and a times difficult but overall I think Meditations is a very worthwhile read.
    • 4/5
      A nice book with a vital prologue. There is no way I would have understood the list of proverbs without the background the prologue provides. The sayings/proverbs/thoughts are interesting and someone timeless. However, since even Marcus Aurelius was using these more as notes to remember than timeless moral messages, they all should be looked at with a grain of salt. This edition is well worth the read.