Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library Classics)

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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. I have been a member for the last 6 years and this is my first review of all the books I have read. What surprised me so much about the personal diary of an ancient Roman emperor written nearly two thousand years ago is that I understood what Marcus Aurelius felt. I, too, have an inner battle every morning to get out of my warm bed. I, too, deal with the stress of life and I have to ask myself, “What is in my control and what isn’t?” I never in a million years would believe that I have something in common with the most powerful person who lived two thousand years ago. If you want to do a deeper dive into the Stoics, then I recommend all of the following. Start first with A Guide to the Good Life, and proceed from there.

Gregory Hays Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Review Gregory Hays Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Review

Lee lifted the breadbox and took out a tiny volume bound in leather, and the gold tooling was almost completely worn away—The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius in English translation. This account of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius is an insightful book on the ideas of righteous living and facing adversities. He talks about various aspects of how one can improve their lives by straightforward and consistent action. He also delves into human behaviour and how the mind plays a governing role. 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.

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

Meditations - Internet Archive

Fantastic translation which makes ancient philosophy more accessible than ever. Yes it’s quite a superficial and contemporary translation, but this allows it to be read by a new audience. Ancient philosophical ideas are not difficult or complicated in themselves, they are just written in (what can appear to the layman as) convoluted language. I would classify this as an easy read, and you don’t even need to be reader to get through it. It gets straight to the point in clear terms.There is a strange dichotomy to Meditations. There is great wisdom to be had while also containing rambling nonsense. The thing you have to understand is that this book is a series of entries some guy made of his, sometimes completely random, thoughts. Conceitedly, that's basically what philosophy is. Forced perspective in written form. And, as with the rest of the human race, not every thought is a winner. He reminds himself that he's often choosing his own hell. And he can choose to climb out of it. That like C.S. Lewis says, people want to be in hell. They choose it and blame God, just as the addict blames others for his addiction, and cannot escape. Aurelius says: You know what to do: now go do it. And from The Good Soldier by Ford Maddox Ford: If I had a goodly apple on my table for 9 years that was rotten to the core - but for 9 years, I had and believed it to be good - is it wrong of me to believe that for 9 years I had a goodly apple? (Actual quote.) He - like many of us - understands the nature of the world. We've read Ecclesiastes - Vanity of vanities: all is vanity. ...What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after." Ryan Holiday has convinced me that this is one of those books from which we can all learn. And now I wholeheartedly agree. And am grateful to him. Ten key learnings (that i love - of many) i found on www:

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

I am a huge fan of A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy by William B. Irvine. It not only made me realize that I have already been living the Stoic philosophy in many ways, but encouraged me to dig further into Stoic readings and go straight to the source. Thus, I give this a 5 for the historical significance and relevant advice. But I give it a 3 due to aforementioned issues with clarity.We know. We KNOW. And Marcus Aurelius knew. But we have to give ourselves these little reminders: Don't fear death. It's natural. It has happened before and will happen again. Be slow to anger. Don't let grief consume you. If you don't let grief consume you, it won't. Be kind. You can't control other people. Maybe they don't know better: "But I do." Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their minds Meditations by Marcus Aurelius