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Marcus Aurelius ruled the Roman empire from AD 161-180. He wrote the 12 books of the Meditations 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. Some of it was written while he was positioned at Aquincum on campaign in Pannonia, because internal notes tell us that the first book was written when he was campaigning against the Quadi on the river Granova and the second book was written at Carnuntum. It is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published and the work has no official title, so "Meditations" is one of several titles commonly assigned to the collection. These writings take the form of quotations varying in length from one sentence to long paragraphs. George Long Translation.… (more)
Michael.Rimmer: I'm not claiming parity of quality or significance between Vaypayee and Marcus Aurelius, rather that it's interesting to consider the inner thoughts of a national leader in the context of their public actions.
Marcus Aurelius had me on his team from the outset until he wrote in Book 2, “But cast away the thirst after books, that thou mayest not die murmuring.” My first reaction: the nerve of creating a book, then. Then I recalled that this book is a collection of notes to himself. Rather than asserting that any well-read person dies murmuring, he’s steeling himself against regret that he could not lead the retired life of a philosopher but that it was his lot to be emperor. That being so, he resolved to carry it out for the general good and in line with the Stoic principles he imbibed from his youth.
Moreover, even an emperor can philosophize: “Where a man can live, there he can also live well. But he must live in a palace; — well then, he can also live well in a palace.”
And what a time to be emperor. These notes were written in stolen moments while campaigning on the fringes of the Roman Empire as the Pax Romana began to crumble. The circumstances of their composition help explain the loose organization and repetition; he did not prepare these for publication. We are listening over his shoulder as he admonishes and exhorts himself. His words attest to his moral seriousness and awareness of falling short of his rigorous standards.
In Book 8, Marcus draws an analogy between an arrow and the mind, asserting that both move straight, although in a different manner. These jottings are evidence that this is not really so with the mind.
Despite the seemingly random nature of the collection, it does have overwhelming recurrent themes. Paramount: the need to cultivate equanimity in the face of mortality. Marcus believes in God/the gods (he seems to use the terms interchangeably), yet not in any afterlife. Other emphases are the need to follow the “ruling part,” as Long translates the Greek term used by Stoics to denote reason, and to remember that the opinion of others is only that, opinion.
When Marcus returns to the consideration that even an emperor can be a philosopher, he writes, “How plain does it appear that there is not another condition of life so well suited for philosophizing as this in which thou now happenest to be.” If it’s true of him, it can also be true for us since, as he writes, “How close is the kinship between a man and the whole human race, for it is a community, not of a little blood or seed, but of intelligence.”
This universal applicability helps explain why these deeply personal musings have been widely read through the centuries. ( )
The most interesting thing about this is how long ago it was written and how well it still holds up. That said, it is repetitive and sort of obvious, at least if you're of a certain age. There's a lot of philosophy espoused without any insight into what led to the production of said Meditations. If you get a version with recaps, that's all you need to read to glean the most essential bits. Fast read, but hardly life changing. ( )
Meditações, clássico escrito por Marco Aurélio, traz reflexões que servem como exercícios espirituais em tempos turbulentos, conselhos a si mesmo que o imperador buscou registrar e cujas ideias ecoam até hoje.
O pensamento estoico, longe de ser mero objeto de estudo de helenistas, encontra-se mais vivo do que nunca na sociedade contemporânea. Seus propagadores, como Sêneca e Marco Aurélio, chegam a uma nova geração de leitores aproximando a filosofia da vida prática. Esta nova tradução do clássico Meditações oferece grande precisão linguística, permitindo decifrar as nuances de uma obra complexa que conduz o leitor a uma reflexão sobre a impermanência da vida e a nossa relação com a natureza e o cosmos
The translation was less elegant than its english counterpart found on Gutenberg.org. Nevertheless the introductory notes were insightful and interesting. It was also funny to see how Aurelius' philosophy is quite similar to buddhist philosophy and psychology. ( )
The translation doesn't shrink from anachronism (there's talk of atoms) and sometimes verges on the new age: "Stay centred on that", "Let it hit you". But it's sparky and slangily readable, and for those who know Marcus only as the Richard Harris character in Ridley Scott's Gladiator, this is a chance to become better acquainted.
As a critic once said, the Meditations are an "unassailable wintry kingdom". But in the desert of 2003, their icy blasts are refreshing and restorative. They tell you the worst. And having heard the worst, you feel less bad.
Don't be ashamed to need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish. And if you've been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up? So what?
Remember… that everything has always been the same, and keeps recurring, and it makes no difference, whether you see the same things recur in hundred years or two hundred, or in an infinite period.
The impediment to action advances action.
What stands in the way becomes the way.
Remind yourself, that your task is to be a good human being; remind yourself what nature demands of people. Then do it, without hesitation, and speak the truth as you see it. But with kindness. With humility. Without hypocrisy.
Don't let your imagination be crushed by life as a whole. Don't try to picture everything bad that could possibly happen. Stick with the situation at hand…
And you can also commit injustice by doing nothing.
If they've made a mistake, correct them gently, and show them where they went wrong. If you can't do that, then the blame lies with you. Or no one.
False friendship is the worst. Avoid it at all costs. If you're honest and straightforward and mean well, it should show in your eyes. It should be unmistakable.
Each of us needs what nature gives us, when nature gives it.
How much more damage, anger and grief do when the things that caused them.
If it's not right, don't do it. If it's not true, don't say it.
The fencer's weapon is picked up and put down again. The boxer's is part of him.
Last words
So make your exit with grace—the same grace shown to you.
Marcus Aurelius ruled the Roman empire from AD 161-180. He wrote the 12 books of the Meditations 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. Some of it was written while he was positioned at Aquincum on campaign in Pannonia, because internal notes tell us that the first book was written when he was campaigning against the Quadi on the river Granova and the second book was written at Carnuntum. It is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published and the work has no official title, so "Meditations" is one of several titles commonly assigned to the collection. These writings take the form of quotations varying in length from one sentence to long paragraphs. George Long Translation.
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Marcus Aurelius wrote 'Meditations' around 170 - 180, whilst on a campaign in central Europe, most probably in what is now Serbia, Hungary and Austria. The 12 books that make up 'Meditations' were not written as an exercise in explaining his philosophy but rather as a personal notebook for self-improvement and study. 'Meditations' illustrates just how important the Stoic Epictetus was to Marcus as he quotes the Greek philosopher's famed 'Discourses' on more than one occasion. Epictetus was a legendary figure in Greek philosophy and many claim he is the greatest of the Stoics; texts that remain in existence from the period suggest that in his native Greece, he was even more popular than Plato. As was previously mentioned, 'Meditations' was not written for public consumption but rather as an aid to personal development. Marcus wanted to change his way of living and thinking and to do this he embarked on a set of philosophical exercises. He would reflect on philosophical ideas and by writing them down and by repeating them he hoped to re-programme his mind and find his own philosophy to live by.One of the key exercises in the book discusses Marcus attempting to look at the world from 'the point of view of the cosmos' in a bid to try and look at life and the universe outside of the common and limited parameters of individual concerns. “You have the power to strip away many superfluous troubles located wholly in your judgment, and to possess a large room for yourself embracing in thought the whole cosmos, to consider everlasting time, to think of the rapid change in the parts of each thing, of how short it is from birth until dissolution, and how the void before birth and that after dissolution are equally infinite.” Marcus Aurelius died on March 17, 180, in the city of Vindobona which was situated where Vienna is today.
Haiku summary
Live life with reason. / The cosmos doesn't need you. / Be still. Watch. Listen. (johnxlibris)
Moreover, even an emperor can philosophize: “Where a man can live, there he can also live well. But he must live in a palace; — well then, he can also live well in a palace.”
And what a time to be emperor. These notes were written in stolen moments while campaigning on the fringes of the Roman Empire as the Pax Romana began to crumble. The circumstances of their composition help explain the loose organization and repetition; he did not prepare these for publication. We are listening over his shoulder as he admonishes and exhorts himself. His words attest to his moral seriousness and awareness of falling short of his rigorous standards.
In Book 8, Marcus draws an analogy between an arrow and the mind, asserting that both move straight, although in a different manner. These jottings are evidence that this is not really so with the mind.
Despite the seemingly random nature of the collection, it does have overwhelming recurrent themes. Paramount: the need to cultivate equanimity in the face of mortality. Marcus believes in God/the gods (he seems to use the terms interchangeably), yet not in any afterlife. Other emphases are the need to follow the “ruling part,” as Long translates the Greek term used by Stoics to denote reason, and to remember that the opinion of others is only that, opinion.
When Marcus returns to the consideration that even an emperor can be a philosopher, he writes, “How plain does it appear that there is not another condition of life so well suited for philosophizing as this in which thou now happenest to be.” If it’s true of him, it can also be true for us since, as he writes, “How close is the kinship between a man and the whole human race, for it is a community, not of a little blood or seed, but of intelligence.”
This universal applicability helps explain why these deeply personal musings have been widely read through the centuries. ( )