A New Translation By Marcus Aurelius – A New Translation: Empower Your Life With Roman Wisdom In Marcus Aurelius' Timeless Work (2024)

FAQs

What is the best translation of Meditations Marcus Aurelius? ›

Gregory Hays

This is the most popular modern translation of the Meditations. It's concise but very engaging and accessible, written in a style well-suited to lay readers. All translators have to choose between being more literal or being more readable.

I would normally recommend that most people begin by reading The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. That's traditionally the most widely read book on Stoicism. The most readable modern translations is by Gregory Hayes, although the modern Robin Hard version is also excellent and provides a more literal translation.

Marcus stresses that social animals such as humans are meant to live in harmony. He likened his relation to bad people to them being different body parts of the same person. Good and bad people are both part of the same universal nature and they are meant to interact and cooperate.

Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. It is possible that large portions of the work were written at Sirmium, where he spent much time planning military campaigns from 170 to 180.

There are a handful of references to specific individuals and events in the Meditations but for the most part it describes coping with life's challenges in such a general and mundane way that the wisdom comes across as timeless. We soon forget we're peering over Marcus' shoulder, reading his advice to himself.

Which do you like better as an introduction to Stoicism, "Seneca - letters from a stoic" or "Marcus Aurelius - Meditations"? Marcus Aurelius is the way to go--specifically the Gregory Hays translation. It is the clearest, most accessible and most practical of the philosophic texts.

Bill Clinton — The former president reads Marcus Aurelius's Meditations every year. You can read more in this New York Times story. Theodore Roosevelt — Theodore Roosevelt, one of history's most resilient leaders, brought Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius on his deadly “River of Doubt” expedition.

Learning to articulate your thoughts better and better. Human Nature — it is what it is. Marcus Aurelius reminds himself to accept people around him as they are, that human nature sometimes drives people to do evil things, selfish things.

At the time of his death, he was one of the most powerful people on earth. He could have had anything he wanted, and few, if any, would dare challenge him on anything. And yet he proved himself deserving of the power he held. Under Marcus Aurelius, the empire was guided by virtue and wisdom.

Aurelius also believed that people should focus on the present. He advises, “do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.” The future is something outside of our control, so we shouldn't worry about it.

What made Marcus Aurelius so great? ›

The Roman public loved Marcus Aurelius, and he did his best to provide for his citizens through trying times, such as the Antonine Plague. His greatest accomplishment as Emperor was his ability to hold the Empire together through the Roman Empire's first true pandemic, the Parthian War, and the Germanic Wars.

Marcus Aurelius' life and educational background weaved him into a Stoic philosopher who simultaneously carried the responsibility of a Roman Emperor. He achieved the primary goal of Stoicism: building up self-control always to contain overbearing emotions.

Gregory Hays

This is the most popular modern translation of The Meditations. It's concise but very engaging and accessible, written in a style well-suited to lay readers.

Marcus Aurelius was the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. His reign (161–180 CE) marked the end of a period of internal tranquility and good government. After his death the empire quickly descended into civil war. He has symbolized the Golden Age of the Roman Empire for many generations in the West.

Stepping back from emotional and physical chaos to reach a state of calm, clear-headed thinking is the bedrock of Stoicism, a philosophy famously practiced by Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The true beauty of “Meditations” lies in its ability to make us think, pause, and reflect on our lives. Slow reading is critical here. Take your time with each passage, ponder its meaning, and consider how it applies to your life. This reflective reading turns a simple activity into a transformative experience.

On the course of life itself, Marcus Aurelius reminds himself of the importance of living in the moment, but not clinging to any moment which has passed. Be not disturbed about the future, for if ever you come to it, you will have the same reason for your guide, which preserves you at present.

It's written in a straightforward and accessible style without any complex philosophical jargon. Unlike most books, there's no pretense, no performance, no intent to impress an audience. You would think it would be easy to read. Yet, many people struggle with and get frustrated by Marcus Aurelius' Meditations.

Our rough guess is there are 22000 words in this book. At a pace averaging 250 words per minute, this book will take 1 hours and 28 minutes to read. With a half hour per day, this will take 3 days to read.