The best Meditations translation is by Gregory Hays. (Sign up for our free 7-day course on Stoicism to see our interview with Professor Hays). He writes in modern plain English and understands how to make Marcus’s words concise and fluid. It is highly recommended you first read the Hays translation.
Is Marcus Aurelius Meditations a good read?
Not everything in Aurelius’s Meditations will resonate with everyone, but even if you are not interested in Stoicism per se, this is still a great philosophical and literary classic that is worth reading in its own right, for insights as to why an emperor from two thousand years ago is still so highly regarded.
Is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius real?
Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161–180 CE, setting forth his ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.
Is Marcus Aurelius Meditations a self help book?
Why Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations Is the Self-Help Book We All Need to Read. If any year is going to have you reaching for the philosophy books, it’s this one. And if it’s resilience you’re after, you could do a lot worse than the Stoics.
What is the best version of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius? – Related Questions
Is Stoicism the same as mindfulness?
There is an element of mindfulness in Stoicism, which involves sustained attention to present-moment experience. Stoic meditations include reflecting on one’s inevitable death (memento mori) to put one’s experiences and values in a proper perspective.
What do Stoics worship?
The Stoics often identified the universe and God with Zeus, as the ruler and upholder, and at the same time the law, of the universe. The Stoic God is not a transcendent omniscient being standing outside nature, but rather it is immanent—the divine element is immersed in nature itself.
Is Meditations a self improvement book?
Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.
What category is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius?
It is written according to a philosophical school known as Stoicism.
What can we learn from Marcus Aurelius Meditations?
5 Timeless Life Lessons From Marcus Aurelius
- [1] Train Your Perceptions.
- [2] Turn The Other Cheek.
- [3] View Obstacles as Opportunities.
- [4] Love Your Fate.
- [5] Compare Your Life To Eternity.
Who should read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius?
Meditations is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Aurelius’ life. They are not in chronological order, but it’s not hard to follow. Since Stoicism does not go away from logic and reasoning while talking about philosophical ideas such as self, it remains a perfect read for the modern reader.
Do Stoics believe in God?
God, Fate, and Freedom: The Stoics on Providence. The ancient Stoics are pantheists. They believe that the cosmos is identical with God. Therefore, everything in the universe such as stones, trees, animals, humans, etc.
Is Meditations a hard read?
I’ve read through it before, and wow, I remember it as being a hard read. This short book took me months to get through. I could only find myself reading a page or two at a time. I’d read a verse and find myself having to reread it repeatedly, because nothing would sink in or I wouldn’t understand the message.
What is Marcus Aurelius most famous quote?
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together,but do so with all your heart.”
Who is the most famous Stoic?
Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, born nearly two millennia ago is perhaps the best known Stoic leader in history.
What do Stoics say about love?
Focus on what is under your control, the Stoic would say, even in love. Accept the human condition and the bounds set for you by nature. Understand that you cannot possess what you love. We have our loved ones on loans and should rejoice in them as long as they are present.
What was Caesar’s favorite saying?
“Veni, vidi, vici. (I came, I saw, I conquered.)”
What are Caesar’s last 3 words?
Another Shakespearean invention was Caesar’s last words, “Et tu, Brute?,” meaning “You too, Brutus?” in Latin. Suetonius recorded his final words as the Greek “Kai su, teknon?” or “You too, my child?” However, Plutarch says that Caesar said nothing, pulling his toga over his head to cover his head as he died.
What is the most famous line in Julius Caesar?
“Et tu, Brute—Then fall, Caesar!” “The noblest man that ever lived in the tide of times.”
What is Caesar’s biggest flaw?
In Julius Caesar, Caesar’s fatal flaw is shown to be his excessive self-pride, which makes him ignore warnings from the gods and thus invites havoc. One example is when Caesar refuses to listen to the soothsayer who warns him to beware the ides of March, Caesar responds by saying “He is a dreamer. Let us leave him.
What were Caesar’s actual last words?
According to the historian Suetonius, Caesar shouted out in Latin, “Ista quidem vis est!” (“Why, this is violence!” or “But this is violence!”) when his toga was ripped down from his shoulder.
