Product Description

A new translation of the philosophical journey that has inspired luminaries from Matthew Arnold to Bill Clinton

Written by an intellectual Roman emperor, the Meditations offer a wide range of spiritual reflections developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and the universe. Marcus Aurelius covers topics as diverse as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods, and his own emotions, spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation.
* Includes an introduction, chronology, explanatory notes, general index, index of quotations, and index of names

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5157 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-31
• Original language: Latin
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Amazon.com
One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it does, both aphoristically ("Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly.") and rhetorically ("What is it in ourselves that we should prize?"). Whether these, and other entries ("Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life.") sound life-changing or like entries in a teenager's diary is up to the individual reader, as it should be. Hays's introduction, which sketches the life of Marcus Aurelius (emperor of Rome A.D. 161-180) as well as the basic tenets of stoicism, is accessible and jaunty. --H. O'Billovich

Review
?Here, for our age, is [Marcus?s] great work presented in its entirety, strongly introduced and freshly, elegantly translated.? ?Robert Fagles

Language Notes
Text: English, Greek (translation)

Customer Reviews

Profound!
I bought this a couple of years ago and my copy is full of markings and is getting quite ragged now!

I never find a situation upon which this wise man did not speak. Very nice work!

I do know a fair bit of Greek but I have still enjoyed Prof. Hays' translation. I'd recommend a copy to every young graduate you know!

Emperor of Rome and himself
If you think you cannot have at the same time a complicated job and
peace of spirit, if you think your job is too demanding, if you think
your house is a chaos that inevitably makes your nerves explode...if
you think some of that, then you should read Marcus Aurelius
Meditations. He was for twenty years emperor of one of the largest
empires that have ever existed, dealing with intrigues, Rome, wars
at the borders....and he was also a master of himself, living in calm,
austerity, integrity. The book is a collection of thoughts,
reflections, whose central message is that what is really important is
the tranquility of the self and not all the vanities or worries of the
daily life. Marcus Aurelius teaches how to "Be firm as the rock
against which the waves of the sea come and go".

The Hays translation: interesting and readable.
Those turned off by older translations of "Meditations" containing all the "thys" and "thous" (as I was) need wait no longer....Gregory Hays has saved the day.

This is an excellent and very readable version of the ancient Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius' personal notebooks and musings, and it can be extremely valuable to the inner seeker.

Personal responsiblity in every aspect of life is emphasized, as is the acceptance of death and the position that we are free to leave this Earth whenever we choose (a very heavy viewpoint for some). Much has been made of the "bleak" worldview of Marcus, but in my opinion, it's not bleak to see things as they are, just....realistic.

I highly recommend this book to all who want to learn to look within (and without) in a more effective way.