Meditations (Penguin Classics)
A clear and eloquent leading translation of the Roman emperor’s reflections of human life and death, timeless Stoic philosophy that inspires countless others including The Daily Stoic author Ryan Holiday to use philosophy as a tool for self-improvement and resilience to live a better life
Written in Greek by an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a wide range of fascinating spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cover such diverse topics as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods and the values of leadership. But while the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation, in developing his beliefs Marcus also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a series of wise and practical aphorisms that have been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and ordinary readers for almost two thousand years.
To provide a full understanding of Aurelius's seminal work, this edition includes explanatory notes, a general index, an index of quotations, an index of names, and an introduction by Diskin Clay putting the work in its biographical, historical, and literary context, a chronology of Marcus Aurelius's life and career.
Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Written in Greek by an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a wide range of fascinating spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cover such diverse topics as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods and the values of leadership. But while the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation, in developing his beliefs Marcus also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a series of wise and practical aphorisms that have been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and ordinary readers for almost two thousand years.
To provide a full understanding of Aurelius's seminal work, this edition includes explanatory notes, a general index, an index of quotations, an index of names, and an introduction by Diskin Clay putting the work in its biographical, historical, and literary context, a chronology of Marcus Aurelius's life and career.
Penguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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Community Reviews
Marcus Aurelius was a beloved Roman Emperor, and a stoic philosopher. This book is basically lil' notes he wrote to himself over the course of 19 years. Whether you are stoic or not, you'll definitely recognize some of the quotes and philosophies that originated from this book. Some of my favorites include the necessity for gratitude, the importance of not only realizing the brevity of life but using it as a primary source of motivation, and the fact that your happiness is entirely up to you since it is determined by the quality of your thoughts. I really struggled to only pick a few since there are so many magnificent mind gems in this bad boy. I highly recommend the short, but impactful read since in his own words, we should all "put an end once for all to this discussion of what a good man should be, and be one".
Before I start I will say this.. I have taken away things from this book that I will never forget. Getting in tune with “the Whole,” being one with the Universe, and controlling the wandering mind are all things that are really impressive for “one of the most powerful men of all time” to supposedly understand & reflect on to himself 2,000 years ago. The story goes something like “these are diary entries TO himself, FOR himself written in Greek when most philosophical pieces at the time were written in Latin because nobody was ever supposed to read this.”
ALRIGHT…. Now that that’s out of the way.
This next bit is personally addressed to those who say “this is the greatest book ever written.”
YOU’RE A GRADE A SQUID!!!!!
Don’t get me wrong, this is a great book to put you in a good head space. Really, it will probably do you good to read this book. But I mean come on…. Most of the things in this book that were good made me go “oh yeah. That’s cool to hear someone 2,000 years ago had an understanding of & it’s nice how he said put that into words but like… we’re certain he said that?”
Maybe I’m a little too cynical & skeptical of truly believing ANYTHING from that long ago… and maybe that’s just a me thing… BUT, I think this book is heavily(hate to use this next word) romanticized by wanna be philosophical dweebs in their 20’s with moderate to severe ego problems. Like.. you’re telling me that over the course of 2,000 years… we can just say FOR CERTAIN that this guy was that “noble” or “intelligent” and NOWHERE in history did we “mistranslate” this?! PEOPLE BASE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES OFF WHAT JOSEPH SMITH’S LYING ASS SAID ONLY 138 YEARS AGO AND THEY ARE CONVINCED IT IS THE TRUTH!!! Nobody thinks that juuusssttt maybe someone that loved this guy a little too much beefed up his story somewhere along the road?!?! Hahahah, I’m the worst, but hear me out one more time:
Roald Dahl’s children’s books from only 40 years ago are being re-written to fit a modern narrative & they’re taking out the “less inclusive” bits. IF YOU BASE YOUR LIFE OFF ANYTHING “WRITTEN 2000 YEARS AGO” YOU ARE A SQUID!!!!!!!!!!
Again… There’s not a single bad message in this book & it will only put you in a good headspace to read & I thoroughly enjoyed MOST of it.. but often I was thinking “come on, really?”
One more time… it really was a good read. Definitely a solid book to have under your belt. It’s kinda like reading the Bible… But instead of being like “damn this mf really walked on water?!” You’re like “damn this mf was really THAT self disciplined?!”
That is all. Thank you & you’re welcome.
There's a lot of Stoicism, which I enjoyed because it strangely resembles Buddhism- and I like both. There were some great thoughts about coping with the idea of death, which he revisited throughout the book. There's also a lot of Marcus Aurelius's Hellenic religion, which I thought was really interesting because his relationship to paganism is so similar to the relationship a lot of Christians have with Christianity.
There was a lot of repetition which I enjoyed less, and at certain point, I started to lose some interest in his aphorisms. This might be my fault for reading this over five days, instead of just reading a few meditations a day for a longer period of time (as my husband suggested).*
*Also I looked at 4 different translations, which Kevin also told me not to do.
There was a lot of repetition which I enjoyed less, and at certain point, I started to lose some interest in his aphorisms. This might be my fault for reading this over five days, instead of just reading a few meditations a day for a longer period of time (as my husband suggested).*
*Also I looked at 4 different translations, which Kevin also told me not to do.
Meditations" is a timeless classic that encapsulates Stoic philosophy, with Marcus Aurelius sharing his innermost thoughts and philosophies on life. The book is a beautiful and introspective work, full of meaningful insights and thought-provoking ideas.
Aurelius provides valuable insight into the Stoics' notion of a good life, emphasizing the importance of living in accord with nature, rationality, and personal virtue. Readers are left with a sense of inner peace, encouraged to seek the greater strength and fulfillment found through reflecting on the most profound and important aspects of their lives.
The book is a powerful reminder that by focusing our attention on what is essential, we can lead happier, more fulfilled lives. Through Aurelius' perspective, we're reminded that in comparison to the grand scheme of time, our lives are fleeting, and we should, therefore, live each day with intention and purpose.
Overall, "Meditations" is a rich and profound book that leaves a lasting impact on the reader. It's an inspiring and thought-provoking work that engages the reader in questions of philosophy and psychology, instilling a sense of calm and focus that lingers long after the book is finished.
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