Meditations Article Index for
Meditations
Articles about
Meditations
Website Links For
Meditations
 

Information About

Meditations




''Meditations'' is a series of writings by Marcus Aurelius setting forth his ideas on Stoic Philosophy .

Marcus Aurelius wrote ''Meditations'' in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180 , as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. These memos survive and continue to inspire others to this day. It is not clear that he ever intended the writings to be published, so the title ''Meditations'' is but one of several commonly assigned to the collection. These writings take the form of quotations varying in length from one sentence to long paragraphs. Some popular English translations include:

  • ''The Golden Book of Marcus Aurelius'', translated by Meric Casaubon . J.M. Dent & Co. (London). 1906-1908.

  • ''Meditations'', translated by Maxwell Stainforth. ISBN 0140441409.

  • ''Meditations'', translated by Gregory Hays. ISBN 0679642609.

  • ''The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations'', translated by Scot and David Hicks. ISBN 0743233832.


His stoic ideas often revolve around the denial of emotion, a skill which, he says, will free a man from the pains and pleasures of the material world. He claims that the only way a man can be harmed by others is to allow his reaction to overpower him. He shows no particular religious faith in his writings, but seems to believe that some sort of logical, benevolent force organizes the universe in such a way that even "bad" occurrences happen for the good of the whole.


QUOTATIONS

  • ''If thou art pained by any external thing, it is not this that disturbs thee, but thy own judgment about it. And it is in thy power to wipe out this judgment now.'' (trans. George Long)

  • ''A cucumber is bitter. Throw it away. There are briars in the road. Turn aside from them. This is enough. Do not add, "And why were such things made in the world?"'' (trans. George Long)

  • ''Let opinion be taken away, and no man will think himself wronged. If no man shall think himself wronged, then is there no more any such thing as wrong.'' (trans. Meric Casaubon)

  • ''(...) As for others whose lives are not so ordered, he reminds himself constantly of the characters they exhibit daily and nightly at home and abroad , and of the sort of society they frequent; and the approval of such men, who do not even stand well in their own eyes has no value for him.'' (trans. Maxwell Staniforth)



EXTERNAL LINKS