It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own. If god appeared to us – or a wise human being, even – and prohibited us from concealing our thoughts or imagining anything without immediately shouting it out, we wouldn’t make it through a single day. That’s how much we value other people’s opinions – instead of our own. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius And while I found Meditations to be profound at times, I also found it to be a frustrating read to really dive into, and downright depressing at times. The forward warned: Don't waste the rest of the time here worrying about other people unless it affects the common good. It will keep you from doing anything useful."

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

No matter what happens, keep this in mind: It's the same old thing, from one end of the world to the other. It fills the history books, ancient and modern, and the cities, and the houses too. Nothing new at all." I can see myself revisiting this consistently to continue to gain more and more knowledge and information about the stoic way of life for many years to come. An must read for anyone looking to improve and live their best life. 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. Nearly two thousand years after it was written, Meditations remains profoundly relevant for anyone seeking to lead a meaningful life.On one hand, it’s amazing to see the inner thoughts of an historical figure. Seeing these thoughts humanizes him. You see the struggles he encounters and they are not so different than what we struggle with today. Additionally, a few of the meditations really spoke to me. I will likely reread in the future and dive deeper into these thoughts. 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. Can’t you see? It’s just the same with you-and just as vital to nature. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius 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.

Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library) Kindle Edition Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library) Kindle Edition

Marcus Aurelius used philosophy as we used religion — as a way of constructing a worldview and of ethics and a proper way of living. Of all the different philosophies, Marcus Aurelius most heavily ascribed to Stoicism. "Stoicism has even been described, not altogether unfairly, as the real religion of upper-class Romans," Hays writes in the Introduction. Stoicism not only is concerned with how to live one's life, but also how to view the world. "Roman stoicism, by contract, was a practical discipline—not an abstract system of thought, but an attitude of life." 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 And if you are interested in Stoicism, then you should also take a look at some other books that explore Stoicism, Buddhism, happiness and enjoying life. Love books? Get Unlimited Reading/Listening:

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The actual “book” however is decent. I call it a “book” specifically because this is not truly a book. It’s a glorified diary from someone who lived a very long time ago. With the way the introduction was written, who knows what was lost to history and what the translator had the liberty of changing. This diary had its moments where a point connected with me and had me questioning something in my life which is why I gave it 3 stars. There are valuable lessons in this, some more valuable than others depending on the person, which make me glad I read it. Be grateful for what you have. There is always someone who has less than you do. Be grateful for the things that you have, no matter how small they may seem. 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. to approach this thought with care, so that nothing irrational creeps in. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the universe loves nothing so much as to change things which are and to make new things like them. For everything that exists is in a manner the seed of that which will be.”

Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library (Hardcover Meditations: A New Translation (Modern Library (Hardcover

Today I escaped my anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions – not outside. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Be kind to others. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Be kind and compassionate, even to those who are different from you. Book Review, Highlights, and Quotes from Meditations: A New Translation by Marcus Aurelius – Translated by Gregory Hays Do your best. Don't compare yourself to others. Just do your best and be proud of what you have accomplished.He also confronts death, change, nature, human interactions. As put by Hays, Meditations recurring themes are: The composition of the Meditations is normally dated to the 170s—Marcus's last decade. That this was a dark and stressful period for him can hardly be doubted. The main positive for me is that this was actually written by a Roman emperor, which puts the reader in his mind and thoughts. At the same time, the work felt a little dimished by the fact it was written by an emperor, in the sense that it is easy for a person of the most privilege to talk about doing away with desires, or taking things as they come, seeing death as something to not fear, etc. This type of view feels much more genuine from philosophers or personnages who, by their circumstances, endure hardships by living their beliefs or philosophy. This book was written by Marcus Aurelius reigned as Roman emperor from 161 to 180 CE and is best known as the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome (following Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius)