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. On the Shortness of Life: Life Is Long if You Know How to Use It by Seneca (Author), C. D. N. Costa (Translator) Frightened of change? But what can exist without it? What’s closer to nature’s heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood as it was? Eat food without transforming it? Can any vital process take place without something being changed?

Meditations: A New Translation [EPUB] [4lkf510vrm00] Meditations: A New Translation [EPUB] [4lkf510vrm00]

The main positive for me is that this was actually written by a Roman emperor, which puts the reader in his mind and thoughts. At the same time, the work felt a little dimished by the fact it was written by an emperor, in the sense that it is easy for a person of the most privilege to talk about doing away with desires, or taking things as they come, seeing death as something to not fear, etc. This type of view feels much more genuine from philosophers or personnages who, by their circumstances, endure hardships by living their beliefs or philosophy.Do your best. Don't compare yourself to others. Just do your best and be proud of what you have accomplished. Don't waste the rest of the time here worrying about other people unless it affects the common good. It will keep you from doing anything useful."

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Diskin Clay | Waterstones Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Diskin Clay | Waterstones

I began listening to Ryan Holiday and his "Daily Stoic" podcast, and eventually dove into Marcus Aurelius' Meditations on his recommendation. I am not a stoic, and as I read through Aurelius' I found myself agreeing with Goethe, "What's true of Christianity is true of the Stoics: free men are not fitted to be either Christian or Stoic."Few ancient works have been as influential as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, philosopher and emperor of Rome (A.D. 161–180). A series of spiritual exercises filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behavior, it remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Marcus’s insights and advice—on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others—have made the Meditations required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style. For anyone who struggles to reconcile the demands of leadership with a concern for personal integrity and spiritual well-being, the Meditations remains as relevant now as it was two thousand years ago. When people injure you, ask yourself what good or harm they thought would come of it. If you understand that, you’ll feel sympathy rather than outrage or anger. Your sense of good and evil may be the same as theirs, or near it, in which case you have to excuse them. Or your sense of good and evil may differ from theirs. In which case they’re misguided and deserve your compassion. Is that so hard? Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library (Hardcover Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library (Hardcover

When you need encouragement, think of the qualities the people around you have: this one’s energy, that one’s modesty, another’s generosity, and so on . Nothing is as encouraging as when virtues are visibly embodied in the people around us, when we’re practically showered with them. It’s good to keep this in mind. As you kiss your son good night, says Epictetus, whisper to yourself, 'He may be dead in the morning.' It's fascinating how Marcus's notes to himself are still so applicable today given that they were written nearly 2000 years ago. He clearly spent a lot of time thinking about philosophy and in particular how it can be used to live a good life In Gregory Hays’s new translation—the first in thirty-five years—Marcus’s thoughts speak with a new immediacy. In fresh and unencumbered English, Hays vividly conveys the spareness and compression of the original Greek text. Never before have Marcus’s insights been so directly and powerfully presented. I read that passage to Liz, and she said, "I get that he's a stoic - I think he's not - but he WANTS to be - so he gives himself all these reminders."I feel guilty about giving such an iconic work 3/5 stars but let's be honest...there is a lot in here that is only valuable if you are studying Roman emperors or a historian looking for tidbits on Roman society and beliefs. Furthermore, a lot only made sense to Marcus Aurelius since this work is more of a journal where he seems to have sometimes written down random thoughts and "ah-ha"s.

Meditations: A New Translation - Gregory Hays, Marcus Meditations: A New Translation - Gregory Hays, Marcus

Marcus Aurelius used philosophy as we used religion — as a way of constructing a worldview and of ethics and a proper way of living. Of all the different philosophies, Marcus Aurelius most heavily ascribed to Stoicism. "Stoicism has even been described, not altogether unfairly, as the real religion of upper-class Romans," Hays writes in the Introduction. Stoicism not only is concerned with how to live one's life, but also how to view the world. "Roman stoicism, by contract, was a practical discipline—not an abstract system of thought, but an attitude of life." And why is it so hard when things go against you? If it’s imposed by nature, accept it gladly and stop fighting it. And if not, work out what your own nature requires, and aim at that, even if it brings you no glory. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Stop whatever you’re doing for a moment and ask yourself: Am I afraid of death because I won’t be able to do this anymore? Meditations by Marcus Aurelius I can see myself revisiting this consistently to continue to gain more and more knowledge and information about the stoic way of life for many years to come. An must read for anyone looking to improve and live their best life. Today I escaped my anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions – not outside. Meditations by Marcus AureliusThis doesn't mean that I agree with nor do I believe everything Aurelius says. Of course, this is the beauty of philosophy—it simply begs you to think. No logro entender como es que un emperador se posiciona como uno de los más importantes filósofos de todos los tiempos.