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Meditations: With Selected Correspondence
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is one of the best-known and most popular works of ancient philosophy, offering spiritual reflections on how best to understand the universe and one's place within it. In short, highly charged comments, Marcus draws on Stoic philosophy to confront challenges that he felt acutely, but which are also shared by all human beings--facing the constant presence of death, making sense of one's social role, grasping the moral significance of the universe. They bring us closer to the personality of the emperor, who is often disillusioned with his own status and with human activities in general; they are both an historical document and a remarkable spiritual diary. This translation by Robin Hard brings out the eloquence and universality of Marcus' thoughts. The introduction and notes by Christopher Gill take account of the most recent work on Marcus and place the Meditations firmly in the ancient philosophical context. A newly translated selection of Marcus' correspondence with his tutor Fronto broadens the picture of the emperor as a person and thinker.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 180
About the author
Marcus Aurelius
937 books5,436 followersMarcus 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."
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."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 12, 2021
How ridiculous and ignorant of the world is one who is surprised at anything that comes to pass in life. (12.13)
Cast everything else aside, then, and hold to these few truths alone; and remember, furthermore, that each of us lives only in the present, this fleeting moment of time, and that the rest of one’s life has either already been lived or lies in an unknowable future. (3.10)
It is absurd not to try to escape from one’s own wickedness, which is possible, but equally absurd to try to escape from that of others, which is impossible. (7.71)
Apply these rules and trouble yourself no further. (10.2)
__________
Always keep this in mind . . . that happiness in life depends on very few conditions. (7.67)
How easy it is to repel and wipe away every disturbing or inappropriate thought, and recover at once a perfect calm. (5.2)
Dig within; for within you lies the fountain of good, and it can always be gushing forth if only you always dig. (7.59)
Live your whole life through free from all constant and with the utmost joy in your heart, even if all others are crying out against you with whatever charges they please, even if wild beasts are tearing the poor limbs of this lump of clay that has congealed around you. (7.68)
That man prays, ‘May I come to sleep with that woman,’ but you, ‘May I not desire to sleep with her.’ Another prays, ‘May I be rid of this man,’ but you, ‘May I no longer wish to be rid of him.’ Or another, May I not lose my little child,’ but you, ‘May I not be afraid of losing him.’ In a word, turn your prayers round in such a way, and see what comes of it. (9.40)
A healthy eye should look at all that can be seen and not say, ‘I want green things alone,’ for that is the mark of a diseased eye. And a healthy sense of hearing or smell should be ready for all that can be heard or smelled; and a healthy stomach should accept every food, as a mill accepts everything which it has been constructed to grind. Accordingly, a healthy mind should be ready for all that comes about; but the mind which cries, ‘Let my children be safe and sound!’ Or ‘Let everyone praise me whatever I do!’ Is like an eye that seeks only for green, or teeth that seek only for what is tender. (10.35)
What are Alexander, Caesar, and Pompey when compared to Diogenes, Heraclitus, and Socrates? (8.3)
No more of all this talk about what a good man should be, but simply be one. (10.16)
__________
As I said in (the comment I left in) my review of Epictetus' Discourses, Fragments, Handbook, Marcus has some great thoughts, but they have all been expressed by both Epictetus, and Seneca before him. However, he does have some great ways of expressing the principles expanded by his predecessors--his way of expressing the principle that "humans should not wish for only good things to happen to them" in his thought 10.35 above beginning "A healthy eye . . ." is one of my favourites. Again, the principle has been expressed by people before him, but there is no doubt that this is a truly beautiful and eye-opening way of displaying it.
An essential work, along with Epictetus, but as I have expressed before, Seneca's (complete) Letters takes the crown for me:
Re-reading Epictetus is like attending a University lecture (as one would expect, given Arrian claims to have noted these down from Epictetus' actual classes), but Seneca . . . Seneca teaches you all that Epictetus does (and more), but you're not in a lecture hall sitting on small, uncomfortable seats, listening to the professor expound the principles that you know are correct, but nevertheless think could be delivered better; no, with Seneca you're sitting down comfortably, perhaps on a marble seat from which you can enjoy a nice view overlooking the ocean, fully at ease, when along comes your best friend, who sits down next to you. You smile, fully at ease in each other's company, and pass the afternoon with calm, educational, pleasant conversation, over a small glass of wine.
Seneca beats Marcus Aurelius too; again, the latter has some incredibly powerful thoughts like Epictetus, but, to continue the analogy, re-reading Marcus Aurelius would be like walking through the middle of a busy town centre, and passing a crier, who is expounding short, valuable pieces of advice. No doubt useful, but one cannot spend very long in his company or listen to what he has to say over and over and over again, as one can with a good, close friend.
__________
Gravity without affectation. (1.9)
Never a trace of lust for novelty. (1.16)
The things that contribute to the comfort of life, of which fortune had granted him copious supply, he used without ostentation, but also without apology, so as to enjoy them unaffectedly when they were at hand, but to feel no need of them when they were not. (1.16)
Say to yourself at the start of the day, I shall meet with meddling, ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, and unsociable people. They are subject to all these defects because they have no knowledge of good and bad. (2.1)
In brief, you must stand upright, not be held upright. (3.5)
Do away with the judgement, and the notion ‘I have been harmed’ is done away with; do away with that notion, and the harm itself is gone. (4.7)
You should also remember to ask yourself on every occasion, ‘Is this something that is really necessary?’ And we should dispense not only with actions that are necessary, but also with unnecessary ideas; for in that way the needless actions that follow in their train will no longer ensue. (4.24)
And what does it amount to, in any case, everlasting remembrance? Sheer vanity and nothing more. (4.33)
You are a little soul carrying a corpse around, as Epictetus used to say. (4.41)
Where it is possible to live, there it is also possible to live well. (5.16)
If you had a stepmother and a mother at the same time, you would fulfil your obligations to your stepmother, but for all that you would be constantly returning to your mother; and that is your present situation with regard to the court and philosophy. So return to philosophy as often as you can, and take your rest in her; for it is through her that life at court seems bearable to you, and you bearable to your court. (6.12)
When you have favourites and fine dishes set before you, you will gain an idea of their nature if you tell yourself that this is the corpse of a fish, and that the corpse of a bird or a pig or gain, that fine Falernian wine is merely grape-juice, and this purple robe, some sheep’s wool dipped in the blood of a shellfish; and as for sexual intercourse, it is the friction of a piece of gut and, following a sort of convulsion, the expulsion of some mucus. Thoughts such as these reach through to the things themselves and strike to the heart of them, allowing us to see them as they truly are. (6.13)
How shameful it is that, in this life, when your body does not give up the struggle, your soul should do so first. (6.29)
There is nothing new; everything is long familiar, and swift to pass. (7.1)
A person’s worth is measured by the worth of what he has set his heart on. (7.3)
Do not allow the future to trouble your mind; for you will come to it, if come you must, bringing with you the same reason that you now apply to the affairs of the present. (7.8)
Is one afraid of change? Why, what can come about without change? (7.18)
Watch the stars in their courses as though you were accompanying them on their way, and reflect perpetually on how the elements are constantly changing from one to another for the thought of thee things purifies us from the defilement of our earthly existence. (7.47)
Everywhere and all the time it lies within your power to be reverently contented with your present lot. (7.54)
Resolve to act rightly in your own eyes in all that you do; and keep in mind these two points, that how you act is of moral significance, and the the material on which you act is neither good nor bad in itself. (7.58)
Be neither dilatory in your actions, nor disorganised in your conversation, nor rambling in your thoughts; ensure that you soul in brief, neither contracts into itself nor wells over, and that your life is not so busy that you have no time for yourself. (8.51)
Corruption of the mind is a far graver pestilence than any comparable disturbance and alteration in the air that surrounds us; for the one is a plague to living creatures as mere animals, and the other to human beings in their nature as human beings. (9.2)
A person often acts unjustly by what he fails to do, and not only by what he does. (9.5)
The work of philosophy is simple and modest; do not seduce me into vain ostentation. (9.29)
Whenever you are shocked by anyone’s wrong behaviour, ask yourself at once, ‘Is it then possible that there should be no bad people in this world?’ It is quite impossible. So you should not demand the impossible: this person is one of those bad people who must necessarily exist in the world. And eep this argument at hand for when you meet a rogue, a traitor, or any other kind of villain; for as soon as you remind yourself that the class of such persons cannot fail to exist, you will view them more kindly as individuals. (9.42)
Always live the finest of lives; and the power to do so lies in one’s soul, if one is indifferent to things that are indifferent. (11.16)
The anger and distress that we feel at such behaviour bring us more suffering than the very things that give rise to that anger and distress. (11.18)
Begin at last to be a human being while you still have life in you. (11.18)
In the application of one’s principles, one should resemble a pancratist, and not a gladiator. For the gladiator lays aside the sword which he uses and then takes it up again, but the pancratist always has his fist and simply needs to clench it. (12.9)
If something is not right, do not do it, if something is not true, do not say it; for you should keep your impulses under your own control. (12.17)
Realise at last that you have something more powerful and more divine within you than the things that give rise to your passions and set you moving like a puppet. (12.19)
Never act at random and without clear reference to an end. (12.20)
Everything that is in any way beautiful is beautiful of itself and complete in itself, and praise has no part In it; for nothing comes to be better or worse for being praised. And I say this even of things that are described as beautiful in everyday speech, such as material objects and works of art. As for what is truly beautiful, has it need of anything beyond? Surely not, any more than law does, or truth, or benevolence, or modesty. Which of these is beautiful because it is praised, or becomes any less os it if it criticised? Does an emerald become any worse if nobody praises it? Or gold, ivory, purple. A lyre, a sword, a blossom, or a bush? (4.20) [Points in favour of my theory of Art, Aesthetics]
I think all of Cicero’s letters are worth reading, however, even more than his speeches in my view. There is nothing more perfect than the letters of Cicero. —Fronto to Marcus, AD 161-167, 2.156-159
February 28, 2021
"You need to avoid certain things in your train of thought: everything random, everything irrelevant. And certainly everything self-important or malicious.
Someone like that keeps in mind all rational things are related and that to care for all human beings is part of being human. Which doesn't mean we have to share their opinion. We should listen only to those whose lives conform with nature. And the others? One bears in mind what sort of people they are - both at home and abroad, by night as well as day - and who they spend their time with.
And one cares nothing for their praise - men who can't even meet their own standards."
Someone like that keeps in mind all rational things are related and that to care for all human beings is part of being human. Which doesn't mean we have to share their opinion. We should listen only to those whose lives conform with nature. And the others? One bears in mind what sort of people they are - both at home and abroad, by night as well as day - and who they spend their time with.
And one cares nothing for their praise - men who can't even meet their own standards."
May 29, 2023
This was a pleasure to read. I decided to do it slowly, reading a few pages each night just before falling asleep. Such a wonderful thing to do. I higly recommend it.
February 20, 2020
Full review available at warmdayswillnevercease.wordpress.com
I found this book very interesting. Far more interesting than I expected to if I’m honest. It was fascinating to read Aurelius’ thoughts and his ideas about self-improvement. He’s very self-reflective and, knowing that this was his private musings, he’s very honest with himself. I loved Aurelius’ writing style. I’m not sure if it’s due to the translation but the style is very straightforward and simple. Some sections are still relatable today, which I always find fascinating with texts that are so old, and Aurelius gives out some decent life advice too. Here are three of my favourite sections from the book:
Cast everything else aside, then, and hold to these few truths alone; and remember, furthermore, that each of us lives only in the present, this fleeting moment of time, and that the rest of one’s life has either already been lived or lies in an unknowable future. The space of each person’s existence is thus a little thing, and little too is the corner of the earth on which it is lived, and little too even the fame that endures for the longest… (3.10)
Love the art that you have learned and take your rest in it. (4.31)
You should not be disgusted, or lose heart, or give up if you are not wholly successful in accomplishing every action according to correct principles, but when you are thwarted, return to the struggle, and be well contented if for the most part your actions are worthier of human nature. (5.9)
Some sections of this book really resonated with me and some felt completely alien. It was a wonderful reading experience to read the thoughts of just one man who lived in a time and world strange to me. I’d recommend reading it simply because it’s an insight into Aurelius’ world. I’m not sure if ‘enjoyable’ is the right word for this book but it was very interesting and I feel like I’ve learnt a lot.
I found this book very interesting. Far more interesting than I expected to if I’m honest. It was fascinating to read Aurelius’ thoughts and his ideas about self-improvement. He’s very self-reflective and, knowing that this was his private musings, he’s very honest with himself. I loved Aurelius’ writing style. I’m not sure if it’s due to the translation but the style is very straightforward and simple. Some sections are still relatable today, which I always find fascinating with texts that are so old, and Aurelius gives out some decent life advice too. Here are three of my favourite sections from the book:
Cast everything else aside, then, and hold to these few truths alone; and remember, furthermore, that each of us lives only in the present, this fleeting moment of time, and that the rest of one’s life has either already been lived or lies in an unknowable future. The space of each person’s existence is thus a little thing, and little too is the corner of the earth on which it is lived, and little too even the fame that endures for the longest… (3.10)
Love the art that you have learned and take your rest in it. (4.31)
You should not be disgusted, or lose heart, or give up if you are not wholly successful in accomplishing every action according to correct principles, but when you are thwarted, return to the struggle, and be well contented if for the most part your actions are worthier of human nature. (5.9)
Some sections of this book really resonated with me and some felt completely alien. It was a wonderful reading experience to read the thoughts of just one man who lived in a time and world strange to me. I’d recommend reading it simply because it’s an insight into Aurelius’ world. I’m not sure if ‘enjoyable’ is the right word for this book but it was very interesting and I feel like I’ve learnt a lot.
September 13, 2016
Had Marcus not been such a bleeding heart pagan he surely would have been canonized a saint by the early Catholic Church. It's unmistakable the huge influences I noted with the tone of religious reverence Marcus has for nature law and the universe; it's unmistakably in my mind the influences this had on catholic thinking a little while later with Augustine.
The writing itself was easy to read but fairly redundant and much of it very up with the common understanding of the Stoic philosophers. One takes away a much simpler view that whatever the universe has in store for you, none of it matters as we'll all be dead and forgotten. A consistent thought throughout his meditations. Had it not been for his letters included in the oxford press I certainly might have left with a less touchy-freely kinda dude.
The writing itself was easy to read but fairly redundant and much of it very up with the common understanding of the Stoic philosophers. One takes away a much simpler view that whatever the universe has in store for you, none of it matters as we'll all be dead and forgotten. A consistent thought throughout his meditations. Had it not been for his letters included in the oxford press I certainly might have left with a less touchy-freely kinda dude.
August 7, 2024
A fascinating insight into the mind of one of the Roman Empire's great leaders and one who is strongly associated with stoicism. I feel like it was necessary to take my time while reading Meditations, as it really allowed me to process each passage rather than reading words just to finish the story. I appreciate the letters at the end and felt that the translation was well done.
August 26, 2017
I found the book a bit dry. I consists of the Emperor's private reflections. There is a lot of repetition. However, there are some good nuggets. My favorite is his meditation on waking up in the morning--probably a good one to read out loud to your kids when they don't want to get out of bed.
I read the Oxford Classics edition on Kindle. An excellent and thorough introduction, and helpful footnotes (the occasional typo in the footnotes, which seems to be a problem with otherwise well proofread books). The best part of this edition, however, is the inclusion of some of his correspondence (and replies) to the orator Fronto who tutored him.
I read the Oxford Classics edition on Kindle. An excellent and thorough introduction, and helpful footnotes (the occasional typo in the footnotes, which seems to be a problem with otherwise well proofread books). The best part of this edition, however, is the inclusion of some of his correspondence (and replies) to the orator Fronto who tutored him.
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May 4, 2021“You are angry with a man if he smells of stale sweat, or has bad breath? What good will it do you? He has such a mouth, he has such armpits; and being as they are, such exhalations are bound to arise from them.”
Marcus’s praemeditatio malorum remains a useful exercise — yes, you will meet annoying, insufferable, idiotic people, but this cannot be helped and more importantly, they cannot harm you. Safeguard and nurture your hegemonikon. That said, it’s hard for me to find sympathy for what seems to be his extreme anti-aesthetic asceticism. No thanks to blotting out the imagination and quenching desire and viewing my sole meunière as a fish carcass.
Marcus’s praemeditatio malorum remains a useful exercise — yes, you will meet annoying, insufferable, idiotic people, but this cannot be helped and more importantly, they cannot harm you. Safeguard and nurture your hegemonikon. That said, it’s hard for me to find sympathy for what seems to be his extreme anti-aesthetic asceticism. No thanks to blotting out the imagination and quenching desire and viewing my sole meunière as a fish carcass.
January 2, 2020
Great. Like peering into the mind of the best friend you never had. Although I do not quite share his visceral disgust of the material world, I doubt this will prove to be an obstacle to our relationship. Nor will time. In fact, I think I might make it an annual end of year event to re-read this book, or portions of this book, to help me focus: to clean the slate, clarify my thoughts, and set mind at ease to face whatever the following year may throw at me. You never know.
July 23, 2019
Based and duty-pilled
August 13, 2021
i felt like i was being told off for the whole duration of the book
September 15, 2022
Marcus writes meditations as a diary. It was easier to read but required time. Also, the fact that Marcus writes the same topic over and over might prove that it was a struggle he had to face every day of his life as an emperor.
Hanging the best quotes from this book on my Goodreads wall so someday I might go back here.
Hanging the best quotes from this book on my Goodreads wall so someday I might go back here.
December 20, 2023
I never reread books because I have so many new books to read, but Meditations might have to be a yearly reread for me. This is my favourite non-fiction book, although I don’t know if I can say it’s my favourite book of all time when Les Miserables exists.
Meditations is the diary of Marcus Aurelius that was somehow published after his death. In it he reflects on the common themes in ancient philosophy of how to live a good life and be a good person, but he also writes about how to overcome negative emotions. Even though this was written by an emperor nearly 2000 years ago, a lot of it is still relatable and relevant today.
Meditations is the diary of Marcus Aurelius that was somehow published after his death. In it he reflects on the common themes in ancient philosophy of how to live a good life and be a good person, but he also writes about how to overcome negative emotions. Even though this was written by an emperor nearly 2000 years ago, a lot of it is still relatable and relevant today.
October 23, 2022
Interesting thoughts from Marcus, but he was probably a better emperor than philosopher, and more a writer than a thinker.
November 5, 2022
In all seriousness: this is the book you should keep either in the bag you use most, or next to the toilet.
January 10, 2024
Nothing much was new
July 31, 2020
The meditations are essentially a self-help book (in a quite literal sense) for Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher king, who was deeply principled and heavily influenced by Stoicism. There is a terse realism in what he discusses, with frequent themes including the brevity of life and its fleeting pleasures, the folly of fame and seeking one's own glory, and persevering through hardship (something is either too hard for you to bear, so you won't have to bear it much longer, or it isn't too hard for you to bear, so what's the bother?). With many of the same themes appearing repeatedly throughout (e.g. providence and atoms), it can come across as quite boring at times, but it is worth noting that his personal reflections were never meant to reach a wide audience. I don't agree with all of his principles, and the stiff-upper lip, duty-orientated approach would put many off from living in the way he did - particularly if one's own values are influenced by a less austere vision of reality.
However, apart from the Meditations this volume also includes an appendix of correspondence between Aurelius and Fronto, one of his teachers. This shows a different aspect of his character - he discusses his struggles, pleasures and his relationships. Most strikingly we see a deep affection for Fronto ("Goodbye, my-but what am I to say when whatever I say is not sufficient?-my desire, my light, my pleasure."). This develops the picture that we see of him from the Meditations. He is principled, self-controlled and unyielding, but capable of deep affection and concern for others.
This modern translation of Meditations reads very well, and Robin Hard gives lots character to the writing with tasteful idioms particularly in the more emotionally charged letters ("courtroom hacks", "yokel"). The notes are very instructive, as is the introduction, which gives clear background to the concepts introduced.
Overall, definetely worth reading, and this book and translation provides a great introduction to the man, including his personal and philosophical background, his values and his loves.
May 28, 2021
I do not have much to say about Marcus Aurelius's Meditations that has not already been said by reviewers and other people who practice stoicism online. Put simply, Meditations is a book that everyone should read. I would be extremely surprised if you got nothing from it. Although I do not think Stoicism is a perfect philosophy, and it certainly has its flaws that should be criticised and examined, it is incredible that advice from a man who lived almost two millennia ago can still have so much relevance for today. It is incredibly easy to imagine Marcus as someone you know, and his voice is evident despite the distance in time. A lot of this is due to translation too. I would highly recommend the Oxford World's Classics edition of this text if you can pick it up. Not only is it well presented and introduced, but it also contains letters from Aurelius to Marcus Fronto. This correspondence shed such a new light on the Emporer, which is essential to view him in. In my opinion, Stoicism can often seem cold and uncaring. Still, Aurelius's letters show that he was a profoundly affectionate individual who was by no means perfect, no matter how much we might like to see him as such today. I initially picked this book up after enjoying Epictetus's Discourses, and I would love to read more classic stoicism in the future. The more I practice these ideas, the more I notice I am happy with life. Meditations gets my highest recommendation.
August 14, 2023
Meditations is a book I've wanted to read for many years now. So it was the perfect way to start my 2023 reading challenge.
To call this book "old" would be an understatement - but it's a fascinating read when put in perspective. I admit I found myself struggling to read it at times. After all, these are just the thoughts of an emperor from 2000 years ago! Other times I found myself putting the book down, filled with determination to seize the day.
Some quotes to remember:
"Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to live. The inescapable is hanging over your head; while you have life in you, while you still can, make yourself good" - Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, Book 4.17)
"Enough of all this miserable way of life, this whining and apishness. Why are you troubled? What is new in all this? What is there to disconcert you? Is it the casual aspect of things? Consider that. The material? Then consider that. Apart from these, there is nothing. But it is now high time, in your relations with the gods, that you become a simpler and a worthier man. It makes no difference whether you look into these matters for a hundred years or for three years." - Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, Book 9.37)
"No more of all this talk about what a good man should be, but simply be one!" - Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, Book 10.16)
To call this book "old" would be an understatement - but it's a fascinating read when put in perspective. I admit I found myself struggling to read it at times. After all, these are just the thoughts of an emperor from 2000 years ago! Other times I found myself putting the book down, filled with determination to seize the day.
Some quotes to remember:
"Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to live. The inescapable is hanging over your head; while you have life in you, while you still can, make yourself good" - Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, Book 4.17)
"Enough of all this miserable way of life, this whining and apishness. Why are you troubled? What is new in all this? What is there to disconcert you? Is it the casual aspect of things? Consider that. The material? Then consider that. Apart from these, there is nothing. But it is now high time, in your relations with the gods, that you become a simpler and a worthier man. It makes no difference whether you look into these matters for a hundred years or for three years." - Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, Book 9.37)
"No more of all this talk about what a good man should be, but simply be one!" - Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, Book 10.16)
November 22, 2020
This is a book to read, and digest, slowly. I have enjoyed reading a few paragraphs or pages each night, and allowing Marcus Aurelius' observations and ideas to percolate in my mind throughout the following day. Many aspects of the Stoic philosophy he advocates in this short collection of writings are appealing.
I am particularly drawn to the notion that the lives of all individuals are mutually intertwined and, thus, that a crucial feature of a "good" life is to consider, and improve upon, the ways in which one interacts with others. Relatedly, the idea that the universe may be thought of as a "single living being, comprised of a single substance and a single soul" is interesting and thought-provoking; it seems to mirror the biblical phrase from Ecclesiastes that describes living beings as having "all one breath".
This does not, however, mean that I admire Aurelius' philosophy unreservedly. For instance, his glorification of suicide is quite disturbing, particularly to a contemporary audience. Equally, his adjuration to be done with "your thirst for books...so that you may not die with complaints on your lips" is likely to rile any bibliophile or philomath.
Nonetheless, there is much wisdom to be gleaned from this short text, and I certainly will return to these pages more than once in pursuit of it.
I am particularly drawn to the notion that the lives of all individuals are mutually intertwined and, thus, that a crucial feature of a "good" life is to consider, and improve upon, the ways in which one interacts with others. Relatedly, the idea that the universe may be thought of as a "single living being, comprised of a single substance and a single soul" is interesting and thought-provoking; it seems to mirror the biblical phrase from Ecclesiastes that describes living beings as having "all one breath".
This does not, however, mean that I admire Aurelius' philosophy unreservedly. For instance, his glorification of suicide is quite disturbing, particularly to a contemporary audience. Equally, his adjuration to be done with "your thirst for books...so that you may not die with complaints on your lips" is likely to rile any bibliophile or philomath.
Nonetheless, there is much wisdom to be gleaned from this short text, and I certainly will return to these pages more than once in pursuit of it.
May 7, 2012
One who feels a passionate desire for posthumous fame fails to recognize that everyone who remembers him will die very swiftly in his turn and then again the one who takes over from him, until all memory is utterly extinguished as it passes from one person to another and each in succession is lit and then snuffed out
Perfection of character requires this, that you should live each day as though it were your last, and be neither agitated, nor lethargic, nor act a part.
Do not disturb yourself by picturing your life as a whole; do not assemble in your mind the many and varied troubles which have come to you in the past and will come again in the future, but ask yourself with regard to every present difficulty; 'What is there in this that is unbearable and beyond endurance?' You would be ashamed to confess it! And then remind yourself that it is not the future or what has passed that afflicts you, but always the present, and the power of this is much diminished if you take it in isolation and call your mind to task if it thinks that it cannot stand up to it when taken on its own
The green grape, the ripe cluster, the dried raisin; at every point a change, not into non-existence, but into what is yet to be.
Perfection of character requires this, that you should live each day as though it were your last, and be neither agitated, nor lethargic, nor act a part.
Do not disturb yourself by picturing your life as a whole; do not assemble in your mind the many and varied troubles which have come to you in the past and will come again in the future, but ask yourself with regard to every present difficulty; 'What is there in this that is unbearable and beyond endurance?' You would be ashamed to confess it! And then remind yourself that it is not the future or what has passed that afflicts you, but always the present, and the power of this is much diminished if you take it in isolation and call your mind to task if it thinks that it cannot stand up to it when taken on its own
The green grape, the ripe cluster, the dried raisin; at every point a change, not into non-existence, but into what is yet to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2021
I was amazed at how relevant his understanding of physics is nearly two millennia after the book was written - his description of atoms and chemical changes holds true to this day. While his viewpoints on how to live a good life will seem a bit dreary to many, the stoical way of living is quite powerful once you get past the acceptance of life's fleeting character. The book reads somewhat like a Western take on Eastern works such as the Dhammapadda, both in terms of subject matter as well as the structure of short passages or "meditations". As these passages appear to have been composed in the form of a journal, there is some repetitiveness as the author returns frequently to his favorite theme of remembrance of death.
When I return to this book, I'll try a different translation. Though I'm confident that Robin Hard was quite concerned with not altering the original meaning of the text - resulting in phrases such as "ruling-center" - the sentence structure felt overly complicated in many instances, rendering many passages difficult to parse. I glanced at a more contemporary translation and was surprised at the difference in readability.
Note: didn't read correspondence
When I return to this book, I'll try a different translation. Though I'm confident that Robin Hard was quite concerned with not altering the original meaning of the text - resulting in phrases such as "ruling-center" - the sentence structure felt overly complicated in many instances, rendering many passages difficult to parse. I glanced at a more contemporary translation and was surprised at the difference in readability.
Note: didn't read correspondence
November 17, 2019
After looking at a dozen or more translations, I found this one the best (Robin Hard). It's perfectly eloquent and clear and doesn't seem to omit or simplify any original details or references. Sounds a tad more scholarly than Hays, but not pretentious or archaic. That fits, doesn't it? Marcus was an emperor but also a lifelong student of rhetoric, good advice, and unpretentiousness.
Reading a few of his letters shows him ranging from humble to... flowery? It's captivating that one of his letters hints at needing something substantial to write about in Greek, which was not his native language. He wanted to unlearn bad habits by starting over in a different language, but he needed a topic. No one knows, but it's pretty likely that the topic was the philosophy in this volume, which he did write completely in Greek.
As for the work itself, it's almost alarming to see an ancient person understanding so much, albeit with (and maybe even because of) interesting gaps.
With luck, I'll put up a longer review later (as in, I've written plenty and would like to edit it down).
Reading a few of his letters shows him ranging from humble to... flowery? It's captivating that one of his letters hints at needing something substantial to write about in Greek, which was not his native language. He wanted to unlearn bad habits by starting over in a different language, but he needed a topic. No one knows, but it's pretty likely that the topic was the philosophy in this volume, which he did write completely in Greek.
As for the work itself, it's almost alarming to see an ancient person understanding so much, albeit with (and maybe even because of) interesting gaps.
With luck, I'll put up a longer review later (as in, I've written plenty and would like to edit it down).
January 7, 2021
As I read these meditations, I can't help but wonder how much of them were actually practiced by Marcus Aurelius on a daily basis. How does one fight a war when one cares little about the outcome? How does one command an army when one does not hold anyone responsible for their actions and mistakes? Despite his claims to not favoring happiness over sorrow, (because both the sensations and the person who is sensing them will all be smoke in no time) or his advice not to be attached to material things, he sure showed quite a bit of exceptional longing for his teacher Frontos in his letters.
Another thing that needs to be kept in mind while reading the Meditations is that M.A. was a person from the ruling class that never had to worry about shelter, food and education. The things that he claims to be unimportant may not be so for a person from a different station in society.
Overall, great insights, stoic (borderline nihilistic) but nonetheless refreshing counterpoints to our materialistic and egotistic present.
Another thing that needs to be kept in mind while reading the Meditations is that M.A. was a person from the ruling class that never had to worry about shelter, food and education. The things that he claims to be unimportant may not be so for a person from a different station in society.
Overall, great insights, stoic (borderline nihilistic) but nonetheless refreshing counterpoints to our materialistic and egotistic present.
July 19, 2019
Since Marcus Aurelius did not intend to publicize his notations, it'd be folly not to disregard its repetitive nature toward the end or not to acknowledge its profoundness. Meditations is replete with applicable wisdom for all ages. Marcus will surely improve your life no matter if you've just been brought into this world, or whether you're about to leave it.
Moreover, as a quote collector, I was surprised to discover that a significant amount of quotes I've come across over the years clearly trace back to this book. To realize that all these great thinkers have read it, and that I have had the privilege of doing so too, is amazing.
Moreover, as a quote collector, I was surprised to discover that a significant amount of quotes I've come across over the years clearly trace back to this book. To realize that all these great thinkers have read it, and that I have had the privilege of doing so too, is amazing.
January 20, 2013
Reflections from the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius from a (mostly) Stoic philosophical vantage point. A key theme that recurs throughout his Meditations is living/acting according to one's nature. That is, the telos of human life is the realization of one's rational, human nature. This line of thought, along with all classical thinkers, explodes the so-called "naturalistic fallacy" that seeks to drive a wedge between fact and value.
February 9, 2021
Gee, thanks, Marcus Aurelius. Way to make a guy feel super inadequate in his own journaling. The structuring of his thoughts in his personal journal is just really astounding. It's an unfiltered (though maybe editors have cleaned it up over the millennia) view into the mind of the most powerful man in Europe, and it is self-evident that he had the discipline to be a successful emperor. His metaphysics are a bit garbage, but the manly and laconic, okay, Stoic code of conduct, is attractive.
May 11, 2021
Marcus Aurelius put a lot of stray thoughts that had been rattling around my head in order and gave them clarity. Cheers, Marcus! It’s an incredibly insightful work, but its nature as a diary and not a published piece of work means that the nonetheless salient points he makes are often repetitive and scattered.
The inescapable is hanging over your head; while you have life in you, while you still can, make yourself good.
The inescapable is hanging over your head; while you have life in you, while you still can, make yourself good.
November 13, 2020
I tried and tried to get through this. It was the favorite book of someone I knew who recently passed away. But this is not my favorite book. It was so repetitive, felt like he was just saying the same thing over and over again. I think I made it to Book 10 before throwing in the towel. There were good things in it, but those things were just repeated too many times.
July 25, 2021
This edition became a finding for me, because of a modern translation, copious notes, and selection of personal letters between Marcus and his teacher Fronto. I re-read Meditations for keeping my own sanity in tact, but the letters gave a sneak peek at the other Marcus, who is affectionate and sometimes cheeky, and more optimistic in comparison with his persona from Meditations.
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