🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 152 (from laksa027)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa152.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations","crawl_time":1776057025,"first_indexed_time":1375979135,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,wikipedia!en,\/wiki\/Meditations s443","src_root_hash":"17790707453426894952","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Meditations - Wikipedia","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\nMeditations\nEditio princeps\nby\nWilhelm Xylander\nin 1558\nAuthor\nMarcus Aurelius\nOriginal title\nUnknown, probably untitled\nLanguage\nKoine Greek\nPublication place\nRoman Empire\nMeditations\n(\nKoine Greek\n:\nΤὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν\n,\nromanized: \nTa eis heauton\n,\nlit.\n \n'\n'Things Unto Himself'\n'\n) is a series of personal writings by\nMarcus Aurelius\n,\nRoman Emperor\nfrom 161–180 CE, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on\nStoic philosophy\n.\nMarcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the\nMeditations\nin\nKoine Greek\n[\n1\n]\nas a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.\n[\n2\n]\nIt is possible that large portions of the work were written at\nSirmium\n, where he spent much time planning military campaigns in AD 170–180. A portion of his work was written while he was on campaign, because internal notes reveal that the first book was \"written in the country of the\nQuadi\n, at the Granova\"\n[\n3\n]\n(modern-day\nHron\nRiver in\nSlovakia\n) and the second book was written at\nCarnuntum\n.\nIt is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published. 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.\nStructure and themes\n[\nedit\n]\nThe\nMeditations\nis divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Aurelius' life. The passages in each book are not necessarily in chronological order, seeing as they were written as Aurelius' own personal musings. The style of writing that permeates the text is one that is simplified, straightforward, and perhaps reflecting Aurelius'\nStoic\nperspective.\nA central theme to\nMeditations\nis the importance of analyzing one's judgment of self and others and developing a cosmic perspective:\n[\n4\n]\nYou 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.\nAurelius advocates finding one's place in the universe and sees that everything came from nature, and so everything shall return to it in due time. Another strong theme is of maintaining focus and to be without distraction all the while maintaining strong ethical principles such as \"Being a good man.\"\n[\n5\n]\nHis Stoic ideas often involve avoiding indulgence in sensory affections, a skill which 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. An internal orderly and rational nature, or\nlogos\n,\npermeates and guides all existence.\nRationality\nand\nclear-mindedness\nallow one to live in harmony with the\nlogos\n. This allows one to rise above faulty perceptions of \"good\" and \"bad\"—things out of one's control like fame and wealth are (unlike things in one's control) irrelevant and neither good nor bad.\nThe early history of the\nMeditations\nis unknown, and its earliest clear mention by another writer dates from the early 10th century.\n[\n6\n]\nThe historian\nHerodian\n, writing in the mid-3rd century, makes mention of Marcus' literary legacy, saying \"He was concerned with all aspects of excellence, and in his love of ancient literature he was second to no man, Roman or Greek; this is evident from all his sayings and writings which have come down to us\", a passage which may refer to the\nMeditations\n. The\nHistoria Augusta\n'\ns biography of\nAvidius Cassius\n, thought to have been written in the 4th century, records that before Marcus set out on the\nMarcomannic Wars\n, he was asked to publish his\nPrecepts of Philosophy\nin case something should befall him, but he instead \"for three days discussed the books of his\nExhortations\none after the other\".\n[\n7\n]\nA doubtful mention is made by the orator\nThemistius\nin about 364 C.E. In an address to the emperor\nValens\n,\nOn Brotherly Love\n, he says: \"You do not need the exhortations (\nGreek\n:\nπαραγγέλματα\n) of Marcus.\"\n[\n8\n]\nAnother possible reference, in the\nGreek Anthology\n, is an epigram dedicated to \"the Book of Marcus,\" which has been attributed to the 7th century\nByzantine\nscholar\nTheophylact Simocatta\n.\n[\n9\n]\nThe first direct mention of the work comes from\nArethas of Caesarea\n(c. 860–935), a bishop who was a great collector of manuscripts.\n[\n10\n]\nAt some date before 907 he sent a volume of the\nMeditations\nto Demetrius,\nArchbishop of Heracleia\n [\nit\n]\n, with a letter saying: \"I have had for some time an old copy of the Emperor Marcus' most profitable book, so old indeed that it is altogether falling to pieces.… This I have had copied and am able to hand down to posterity in its new dress.\"\n[\n11\n]\nArethas also mentions the work in marginal notes (\nscholia\n) to books by\nLucian\nand\nDio Chrysostom\nwhere he refers to passages in the \"Treatise to Himself\" (\nGreek\n:\nτὰ εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἠθικά\n), and it was this title which the book bore in the manuscript from which the first printed edition was made in the 16th century.\n[\n12\n]\n[\n13\n]\nArethas' own copy has now vanished, but it is thought to be the likely ancestor of the surviving manuscripts.\n[\n11\n]\nThe next mention of the\nMeditations\nis in the\nSuda\nlexicon published in the late 10th century.\n[\n12\n]\nThe\nSuda\ncalls the work \"a directing (\nGreek\n:\nἀγωγή\n) of his own life by Marcus the Emperor in twelve books,\"\n[\n13\n]\nwhich is the first mention of a division of the work into twelve books.\n[\n12\n]\nThe\nSuda\nmakes use of some thirty quotations taken from books I, III, IV, V, IX, and XI.\n[\n13\n]\nAround 1150,\nJohn Tzetzes\n, a grammarian of Constantinople, quotes passages from Books IV and V attributing them to Marcus.\n[\n13\n]\nAbout 200 years later\nNicephorus Callistus\n(c. 1295–1360) in his\nEcclesiastical History\nwrites that \"Marcus Antoninus composed a book for the education of his son Marcus [i.e.\nCommodus\n], full of all worldly (\nGreek\n:\nκοσμικῆς\n) experience and instruction.\"\n[\n13\n]\n[\n14\n]\nThe\nMeditations\nis thereafter quoted in many Greek compilations from the 14th to 16th centuries.\n[\n14\n]\nThis, specifically after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, as it was among the Greek texts reintroduced by fleeing scholars to European intellectual circles.\n[\n15\n]\nThe present-day text is based almost entirely upon two manuscripts. One is the\nCodex Palatinus\n(P), also known as the\nCodex Toxitanus\n(T), that was first published in 1558–59 but is now lost.\n[\n16\n]\nThe other manuscript is the\nCodex Vaticanus 1950\n(A) in the\nVatican Library\n,\n[\n16\n]\nwhich passed there from the collection of\nStefano Gradi\nin 1683.\n[\n17\n]\nThis is a 14th-century manuscript which survives in a very corrupt state, and about forty-two lines have dropped out by accidental omissions.\n[\n16\n]\n[\n18\n]\nOther manuscripts are of little independent value for reconstructing the text.\n[\n19\n]\nThe main ones are the\nCodex Darmstadtinus 2773\n(D) with 112 extracts from books I–IX, and the\nCodex Parisinus 319\n(C) with 29 extracts from Books I–IV.\n[\n16\n]\n\"Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered\"\nThe modern history of the\nMeditations\ndates from the issue of the first printed edition (\neditio princeps\n) by\nWilhelm Xylander\nin 1558 or 1559.\n[\n20\n]\nIt was published at the instigation of\nConrad Gesner\nand printed by his cousin Andreas Gesner at\nZürich\n.\n[\n20\n]\nThe book was bound with a work by\nMarinus\n(\nProclus vel De Felicitate\n, also a first edition).\n[\n20\n]\nTo the\nMeditations\nwas added a Latin translation by Xylander who also included brief notes.\n[\n20\n]\nConrad Gesner stated in his dedicatory letter that he \"received the books of Marcus from the gifted poet\nMichael Toxites\nfrom the library of\nOtto Heinrich, Prince Palatine\n\", i.e. from the collection at\nHeidelberg University\n.\n[\n20\n]\nThe importance of this edition of the\nMeditations\nis that the manuscript from which it was printed is now lost, so that it is one of the two principal sources of all modern texts.\n[\n20\n]\nGilbert Murray\ncompares the work to\nJean-Jacques Rousseau's\nConfessions\nand\nSt. Augustine's\nConfessions\n.\n[\n21\n]\nIn the Introduction to his 1964 translation of\nMeditations\n, the Anglican priest\nMaxwell Staniforth\ndiscussed the profound impact of\nStoicism\non\nChristianity\n.\n[\n22\n]\nRees (1992) calls the\nMeditations\n\"unendingly moving and inspiring,\" but does not offer them up as works of original philosophy, though he does find an element of Marcus' Stoic philosophy in the philosophical system of\nImmanuel Kant\n.\n[\n23\n]\nWen Jiabao\n, the former Prime Minister of China, has said that he has read the\nMeditations\na hundred times. He also stated that he was \"very deeply impressed\" by the work.\n[\n24\n]\nIt has been described as \"a favorite\" of former United States President\nBill Clinton\n.\n[\n25\n]\nThe\neditio princeps\n(first print edition) of the original Greek was published by\nConrad Gessner\nand his cousin Andreas in 1559. Both it and the accompanying Latin translation were produced by\nWilhelm Xylander\n. His source was a manuscript from\nHeidelberg University\n, provided by\nMichael Toxites\n. By 1568, when Xylander completed his second edition, he no longer had access to the source and it has been lost ever since.\n[\n26\n]\n[\n27\n]\nThe first English translation was published in 1634 by\nMeric Casaubon\n.\nSome popular English translations include:\nFrancis Hutcheson\n, and James Moore (1742).\nThe Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus\n. Indianapolis:\nLiberty Fund\n, 2008. Originally printed by\nFoulis Press\n.\nRichard Graves\n(1792).\nMeditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, &c., by R. Graves\n, 1792; new edition, Halifax, 1826.\nGeorge Long\n(1862).\nThe Meditations of Marcus Aurelius\n; reprinted many times, including in Vol. 2 of the\nHarvard Classics\n.\nChrystal, George W\n. (1902).\nThe Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: A New Rendering Based on the Foulis Translation of 1742\n, (Edinburgh: O. Schulze and Co.; London: S. C. Brown and Co., 1902).\nISBN\n \n9781977864116\nC. R. Haines (1916).\nMarcus Aurelius\n.\nLoeb Classical Library\n.\nISBN\n \n0674990641\nA. S. L. Farquharson\n(1944).\nMarcus Aurelius Meditations\n.\nEveryman's Library\nreprint edition (1992)\nISBN\n \n0679412719\n.\nOxford World's Classics\nrevised edition (1998)\nISBN\n \n0199540594\nClassics Club (1945).\nMeditations. Marcus Aurelius and his times\n. Walter J. Black, Inc. New York.\nMaxwell Staniforth\n(1969).\nMeditations\n. Penguin.\nISBN\n \n0140441409\nGregory Hays (2002).\nMeditations\n. Random House.\nISBN\n \n0679642609\n(181 pages)\nC. Scot Hicks, David V. Hicks (2002).\nThe Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations\n. Simon & Schuster.\nISBN\n \n0743233832\nMartin Hammond\n(2006).\nMeditations\n. Penguin Classics.\nISBN\n \n0140449337\nJacob Needleman\n, and John P. Piazza (2008)\nThe Essential Marcus Aurelius\n. J. P. Tarcher.\nISBN\n \n978-1585426171\n(111 pages)\nRobin Hard, and Christopher Gill (2011).\nMeditations with selected correspondence\n. Oxford University Press\nISBN\n \n978-0199573202\nRobin Waterfield\n(2021).\nMeditations: The Annotated Edition\n. Basic Books.\nISBN\n \n978-1-5416-7385-4\nJohn Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners\nMemento mori\n^\nSwain, Simon (1996).\nHellenism and Empire\n. Oxford University Press. p. 29. \"Close imitation of\nAttic\nwas not required because\nMarcus Aurelius\nwrote in a philosophical context without thought of publication.\nGalen\n's many writings in what he calls 'the common dialect' are another excellent example of non-atticizing but highly educated Greek.\"\n^\nIain King\nsuggests the books may also have been written for mental stimulation, as Aurelius was removed from the cultural and intellectual life of Rome for the first time in his life.  Source:\nThinker At War: Marcus Aurelius\npublished August 2014, accessed November 2014.\n^\nThe Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated from the Greek. By Jeremy Collier\n, London, 1887.\n^\nSellars, John. 23 October 2011. \"\nMarcus Aurelius\n.\"\nInternet Encyclopedia of Philosophy\n.\n^\nRoberts, John, ed. 23 October 2011. \"\nAurēlius, Marcus\n.\"\nThe Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World\n.\n^\nHadot 1998\n, p. 22\n^\nBirley, Anthony (2012).\nMarcus Aurelius: A Biography\n. Routledge.\nISBN\n \n978-1134695690\n.\n^\nFarquharson 1944\n, p. xv\n^\nHadot 1998\n, p. 24\n^\nFarquharson 1944\n, p. xvi\n^\na\nb\nFarquharson 1944\n, p. xvii\n^\na\nb\nc\nFarquharson 1944\n, p. xviii\n^\na\nb\nc\nd\ne\nHaines 1916\n, p. xv\n^\na\nb\nFarquharson 1944\n, p. xx\n^\nHays, Gregory (2002).\n\"Introduction\" in Meditations: A New Translation\n. The Modern Library. p. 51.\nISBN\n \n978-0679642602\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\nd\nHaines 1916\n, p. xvi\n^\nFarquharson 1944\n, p. xix\n^\nHall, Frederick William (1913).\nA companion to classical texts\n. Clarendon Press. p. 251.\n^\nFarquharson 1944\n, p. xxii\n^\na\nb\nc\nd\ne\nf\nFarquharson 1944\n, p. xxvii\n^\nMurray, Gilbert (2002) [1912].\nFive Stages of Greek Religion\n(3rd ed.). Dover Publications. pp. \n168–\n169.\nISBN\n \n978-0486425009\n.\n^\nMarcus Aurelius\n(1964).\nMeditations\n. London:\nPenguin Books\n. pp. \n2\n–27.\nISBN\n \n978-0140441406\n.\n^\nRees, D. A. 1992. \"Introduction.\" In\nMeditations\n, edited by A. S. L. Farquhrson (1944). New York: Alfred A. Knopf.\nISBN\n \n978-0679412717\n. p. xvii.\n^\nChinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Interviewed\n,\nNewsweek\n^\n\"An American reader: Bill Clinton\"\n.\nLos Angeles Times\n. 2009-07-04.\n^\nMarcus Aurelius,\nDe seipso, seu vita sua, libri 12\ned. and trans. by Xylander. Zürich: Andreas Gessner, 1558.\n^\nCeporina 2012\n, p. 54.\nCeporina, Matteo (2012), \"The Meditations\", in Marcel van Ackeren (ed.),\nA Companion to Marcus Aurelius\n, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. \n45–\n61\nFarquharson, A. S. L. (1944), \"Introduction\",\nThe Meditations Of The Emperor Marcus Antoninus\n, vol. 1, Oxford University Press\nHadot, Pierre (1998),\nThe Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius\n, Harvard University Press,\nISBN\n \n978-0674461710\nHaines, C. R. (1916), \"Introduction\",\nThe communings with himself of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus\n, William Heinemann\nAnnas, Julia. 2004. \"Marcus Aurelius: Ethics and Its Background.\"\nRhizai: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science\n2:103–119.\nBerryman, Sylvia Ann. 2010.\nThe Puppet and the Sage: Images of the Self in Marcus Aurelius\nOxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy\n38: 187–209.\nDickson, Keith. 2009. \"Oneself as Others: Aurelius and Autobiography.\"\nArethusa\n42.1: 99–125.\nGill, Christopher. 2012. \"Marcus and Previous Stoic Literature.\" In\nA Companion to Marcus Aurelius.\nEdited by Marcel van Ackeren, 382–395. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.\nHadot, Pierre. 2001.\nThe Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.\nCambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\nKraye, Jill. 2012. \"Marcus Aurelius and Neostoicism in Early Modern Philosophy.\" In\nA Companion to Marcus Aurelius.\nEdited by Marcel van Ackeren, 515–531. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.\nRees, D. A. 2000. \"Joseph Bryennius and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.\"\nClassical Quarterly\n52.2: 584–596.\nRobertson, D. 2019.\nHow to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius\n. New York: St. Martin's Press.\nRutherford, R. B. 1989.\nThe Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: A Study.\nOxford: Oxford University Press.\nStephens, William O. 2012.\nMarcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed\n. London and New York: Bloomsbury (Continuum).\nWolf, Edita. 2016. \"Others as Matter of Indifference in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.\"\nActa Universitatis Carolinae. Graecolatina Pragensia\n2:13–23.\nEnglish\nWikisource\nhas original text related to this article:\nGreek\nWikisource\nhas original text related to this article:\nSellars, John.\n\"Marcus Aurelius\"\n. In Fieser, James; Dowden, Bradley (eds.).\nInternet Encyclopedia of Philosophy\n.\nISSN\n \n2161-0002\n.\nOCLC\n \n37741658\n.\nThe Thoughts Of The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus\n. translated by\nGeorge Long\n, at\nWikisource\nMeditations\nat\nStandard Ebooks\nThe Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, by George Long\n, 1862, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary\nMarcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself: an English translation with introductory study on stoicism and the last of the Stoics\n, by G.H. Rendall\n, 1898, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary\nThe Meditations\nby Marcus Aurelius\nat\nProject Gutenberg\n,\ngutenberg.org\nThe Meditations\npublic domain audiobook at\nLibriVox\nMeditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus\n, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, &c., by R. Graves\n, 1792, at\nGoogle Books\nMultiple editions of the\nMeditations\nat the\nInternet Archive","attrs_markdown":"[Jump to content](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#bodyContent)\n\nMain menu\n\nMain menu\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nNavigation\n\n- [Main page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page \"Visit the main page [z]\")\n- [Contents](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contents \"Guides to browsing Wikipedia\")\n- [Current events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Current_events \"Articles related to current events\")\n- [Random article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Random \"Visit a randomly selected article [x]\")\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About \"Learn about Wikipedia and how it works\")\n- [Contact us](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us \"How to contact Wikipedia\")\n\nContribute\n\n- [Help](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Contents \"Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Learn to edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Introduction \"Learn how to edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Community portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Community_portal \"The hub for editors\")\n- [Recent changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChanges \"A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard \"Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia\")\n- [Special pages](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:SpecialPages \"A list of all special pages [q]\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/icons\/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page)\n\n[Search](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Search \"Search Wikipedia [f]\")\n\nAppearance\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Meditations \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Meditations \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\nPersonal tools\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Meditations \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Meditations \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\n## Contents\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\n- [(Top)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations)\n- [1 Composition](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Composition)\n- [2 Structure and themes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Structure_and_themes)\n- [3 Reception](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Reception)\n  Toggle Reception subsection\n  - [3\\.1 Ancient](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Ancient)\n  - [3\\.2 Medieval](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Medieval)\n  - [3\\.3 Modern](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Modern)\n- [4 Editions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Editions)\n- [5 See also](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#See_also)\n- [6 References](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#References)\n  Toggle References subsection\n  - [6\\.1 Sources](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Sources)\n- [7 Further reading](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Further_reading)\n- [8 External links](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#External_links)\n  Toggle External links subsection\n  - [8\\.1 Studies](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Studies)\n  - [8\\.2 Translations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#Translations)\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\n# *Meditations*\n40 languages\n\n- [Afrikaans](https:\/\/af.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditasies \"Meditasies – Afrikaans\")\n- [العربية](https:\/\/ar.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA \"التأملات – Arabic\")\n- [Български](https:\/\/bg.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%9A%D1%8A%D0%BC_%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B5_%D1%81%D0%B8 \"Към себе си – Bulgarian\")\n- [Català](https:\/\/ca.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditacions \"Meditacions – Catalan\")\n- [Čeština](https:\/\/cs.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hovory_k_sob%C4%9B \"Hovory k sobě – Czech\")\n- [Deutsch](https:\/\/de.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Selbstbetrachtungen \"Selbstbetrachtungen – German\")\n- [Ελληνικά](https:\/\/el.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%CE%A4%CE%B1_%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82_%CE%B5%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%84%CF%8C%CE%BD \"Τα εις εαυτόν – Greek\")\n- [Esperanto](https:\/\/eo.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pensoj_al_mi_mem \"Pensoj al mi mem – Esperanto\")\n- [Español](https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditaciones \"Meditaciones – Spanish\")\n- [Eesti](https:\/\/et.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iseendale \"Iseendale – Estonian\")\n- [Euskara](https:\/\/eu.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gogoetak \"Gogoetak – Basque\")\n- [فارسی](https:\/\/fa.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D8%AA%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA \"تأملات – Persian\")\n- [Suomi](https:\/\/fi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Itselleni \"Itselleni – Finnish\")\n- [Français](https:\/\/fr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pens%C3%A9es_pour_moi-m%C3%AAme \"Pensées pour moi-même – French\")\n- [Frysk](https:\/\/fy.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ta_eis_heauton \"Ta eis heauton – Western Frisian\")\n- [עברית](https:\/\/he.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D7%A8%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA \"רעיונות – Hebrew\")\n- [Kreyòl ayisyen](https:\/\/ht.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations \"Meditations – Haitian Creole\")\n- [Bahasa Indonesia](https:\/\/id.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditasi_\\(buku\\) \"Meditasi (buku) – Indonesian\")\n- [Íslenska](https:\/\/is.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Huglei%C3%B0ingar_\\(Mark%C3%BAs_%C3%81rel%C3%ADus\\) \"Hugleiðingar (Markús Árelíus) – Icelandic\")\n- [Italiano](https:\/\/it.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Colloqui_con_s%C3%A9_stesso \"Colloqui con sé stesso – Italian\")\n- [日本語](https:\/\/ja.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E8%87%AA%E7%9C%81%E9%8C%B2 \"自省録 – Japanese\")\n- [한국어](https:\/\/ko.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%EB%AA%85%EC%83%81%EB%A1%9D \"명상록 – Korean\")\n- [Latina](https:\/\/la.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditationes_\\(Marcus_Aurelius\\) \"Meditationes (Marcus Aurelius) – Latin\")\n- [Lietuvių](https:\/\/lt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sau_pa%C4%8Diam \"Sau pačiam – Lithuanian\")\n- [Македонски](https:\/\/mk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%A0%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BE%D1%82_%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B5 \"Разгледувања за самиот себе – Macedonian\")\n- [مازِرونی](https:\/\/mzn.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%B4%D9%86_\\(%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8\\) \"مدیتیشن (کتاب) – Mazanderani\")\n- [Nederlands](https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ta_eis_heauton \"Ta eis heauton – Dutch\")\n- [Polski](https:\/\/pl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rozmy%C5%9Blania_\\(Marek_Aureliusz\\) \"Rozmyślania (Marek Aureliusz) – Polish\")\n- [Português](https:\/\/pt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Medita%C3%A7%C3%B5es \"Meditações – Portuguese\")\n- [Română](https:\/\/ro.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Medita%C8%9Bii \"Meditații – Romanian\")\n- [Русский](https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%9A_%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%83_%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B5 \"К самому себе – Russian\")\n- [Srpskohrvatski \/ српскохрватски](https:\/\/sh.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditacije \"Meditacije – Serbo-Croatian\")\n- [Shqip](https:\/\/sq.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditime \"Meditime – Albanian\")\n- [Српски \/ srpski](https:\/\/sr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B5_\\(%D0%BA%D1%9A%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0\\) \"Медитације (књига) – Serbian\")\n- [தமிழ்](https:\/\/ta.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D \"மெடிடேசன்ஸ் – Tamil\")\n- [Türkçe](https:\/\/tr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kendime_D%C3%BC%C5%9F%C3%BCnceler \"Kendime Düşünceler – Turkish\")\n- [Українська](https:\/\/uk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B8._%D0%9D%D0%B0%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%86%D1%96_%D0%B7_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%8E \"Розмисли. Наодинці з собою – Ukrainian\")\n- [Oʻzbekcha \/ ўзбекча](https:\/\/uz.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/O%CA%BBylar \"Oʻylar – Uzbek\")\n- [Tiếng Việt](https:\/\/vi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Suy_t%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Fng_\\(Marcus_Aurelius\\) \"Suy tưởng (Marcus Aurelius) – Vietnamese\")\n- [中文](https:\/\/zh.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E6%B2%89%E6%80%9D%E5%BD%95 \"沉思录 – Chinese\")\n\n[Edit links](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q1152283#sitelinks-wikipedia \"Edit interlanguage links\")\n\n- [Article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations \"View the content page [c]\")\n- [Talk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Talk:Meditations \"Discuss improvements to the content page [t]\")\n\nEnglish\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations)\n- [Edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit \"Edit this page [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=history \"Past revisions of this page [h]\")\n\nTools\n\nTools\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nActions\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations)\n- [Edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit \"Edit this page [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=history)\n\nGeneral\n\n- [What links here](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:WhatLinksHere\/Meditations \"List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]\")\n- [Related changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChangesLinked\/Meditations \"Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard \"Upload files [u]\")\n- [Permanent link](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&oldid=1345553465 \"Permanent link to this revision of this page\")\n- [Page information](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=info \"More information about this page\")\n- [Cite this page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Meditations&id=1345553465&wpFormIdentifier=titleform \"Information on how to cite this page\")\n- [Get shortened URL](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMeditations)\n\nPrint\/export\n\n- [Download as PDF](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Meditations&action=show-download-screen \"Download this page as a PDF file\")\n- [Printable version](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&printable=yes \"Printable version of this page [p]\")\n\nIn other projects\n\n- [Wikimedia Commons](https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Meditations_by_Marcus_Aurelius)\n- [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/Meditations)\n- [Wikidata item](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q1152283 \"Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]\")\n\nAppearance\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nLiterary work by Marcus Aurelius\n\nThis article is about the writings by Marcus Aurelius. For other uses, see [Meditation (disambiguation)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditation_\\(disambiguation\\) \"Meditation (disambiguation)\").\n\n|   |   |\n|---|---|\n| [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cc\/Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso%2C_seu_vita_sua_%28Xylander%2C_1558%29.jpg\/250px-Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso%2C_seu_vita_sua_%28Xylander%2C_1558%29.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso,_seu_vita_sua_\\(Xylander,_1558\\).jpg)[Editio princeps](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Editio_princeps \"Editio princeps\") by [Wilhelm Xylander](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wilhelm_Xylander \"Wilhelm Xylander\") in 1558 |   |\n| Author | [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") |\n| Original title | *Unknown, probably untitled* |\n| Language | [Koine Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koine_Greek \"Koine Greek\") |\n| Publication place | [Roman Empire](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roman_Empire \"Roman Empire\") |\n\n***Meditations*** ([Koine Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koine_Greek_language \"Koine Greek language\"): Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, romanized:*Ta eis heauton*, [lit.](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Literal_translation \"Literal translation\")''Things Unto Himself'') is a series of personal writings by [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\"), [Roman Emperor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roman_Emperor \"Roman Emperor\") from 161–180 CE, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on [Stoic philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoic_philosophy \"Stoic philosophy\").\n\n## Composition\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=1 \"Edit section: Composition\")\\]\n\nMarcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the *Meditations* in [Koine Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koine_Greek \"Koine Greek\")[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-1) as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-2) It is possible that large portions of the work were written at [Sirmium](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sirmium \"Sirmium\"), where he spent much time planning military campaigns in AD 170–180. A portion of his work was written while he was on campaign, because internal notes reveal that the first book was \"written in the country of the [Quadi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quadi \"Quadi\"), at the Granova\"[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-3) (modern-day [Hron](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hron \"Hron\") River in [Slovakia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Slovakia \"Slovakia\")) and the second book was written at [Carnuntum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carnuntum \"Carnuntum\").\n\nIt is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published. 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.\n\n## Structure and themes\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=2 \"Edit section: Structure and themes\")\\]\n\nThe *Meditations* is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Aurelius' life. The passages in each book are not necessarily in chronological order, seeing as they were written as Aurelius' own personal musings. The style of writing that permeates the text is one that is simplified, straightforward, and perhaps reflecting Aurelius' [Stoic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoicism \"Stoicism\") perspective.\n\nA central theme to *Meditations* is the importance of analyzing one's judgment of self and others and developing a cosmic perspective:[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-4)\n\n> 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.\n\nAurelius advocates finding one's place in the universe and sees that everything came from nature, and so everything shall return to it in due time. Another strong theme is of maintaining focus and to be without distraction all the while maintaining strong ethical principles such as \"Being a good man.\"[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-5)\n\nHis Stoic ideas often involve avoiding indulgence in sensory affections, a skill which 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. An internal orderly and rational nature, or *[logos](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Logos \"Logos\"),* permeates and guides all existence. [Rationality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rationality \"Rationality\") and [clear-mindedness](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Equanimity \"Equanimity\") allow one to live in harmony with the *logos*. This allows one to rise above faulty perceptions of \"good\" and \"bad\"—things out of one's control like fame and wealth are (unlike things in one's control) irrelevant and neither good nor bad.\n\n## Reception\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=3 \"Edit section: Reception\")\\]\n\n### Ancient\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=4 \"Edit section: Ancient\")\\]\n\n|   |   |\n|---|---|\n|   |   |\n| [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Marcus_Aurelius_Glyptothek_M%C3%BCnchen_%283x4_cropped%29.jpg\/120px-Marcus_Aurelius_Glyptothek_M%C3%BCnchen_%283x4_cropped%29.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Marcus_Aurelius_Glyptothek_M%C3%BCnchen_\\(3x4_cropped\\).jpg) | This article is part of a series about[Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") |\n| Personal [Early life](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Early_life_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Early life of Marcus Aurelius\") *[Meditations]()* [Philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Philosophy_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius\")  Roman emperor [Reign](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reign_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Reign of Marcus Aurelius\") [Parthian War](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roman%E2%80%93Parthian_War_of_161%E2%80%93166 \"Roman–Parthian War of 161–166\") [Marcomannic Wars](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcomannic_Wars \"Marcomannic Wars\") [Antonine Plague](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antonine_Plague \"Antonine Plague\")  Legacy [Temple](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Temple_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Temple of Marcus Aurelius\") [Column](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Column_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Column of Marcus Aurelius\") [Equestrian Statue](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Equestrian_Statue_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius\") |   |\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Marcus_Aurelius \"Template:Marcus Aurelius\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Marcus_Aurelius \"Template talk:Marcus Aurelius\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Marcus_Aurelius \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Marcus Aurelius\") |   |\n\nThe early history of the *Meditations* is unknown, and its earliest clear mention by another writer dates from the early 10th century.[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-hadot_22-6) The historian [Herodian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Herodian \"Herodian\"), writing in the mid-3rd century, makes mention of Marcus' literary legacy, saying \"He was concerned with all aspects of excellence, and in his love of ancient literature he was second to no man, Roman or Greek; this is evident from all his sayings and writings which have come down to us\", a passage which may refer to the *Meditations*. The *[Historia Augusta](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Historia_Augusta \"Historia Augusta\")'*s biography of [Avidius Cassius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avidius_Cassius \"Avidius Cassius\"), thought to have been written in the 4th century, records that before Marcus set out on the [Marcomannic Wars](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcomannic_Wars \"Marcomannic Wars\"), he was asked to publish his *Precepts of Philosophy* in case something should befall him, but he instead \"for three days discussed the books of his *Exhortations* one after the other\".[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-7) A doubtful mention is made by the orator [Themistius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Themistius \"Themistius\") in about 364 C.E. In an address to the emperor [Valens](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Valens \"Valens\"), *On Brotherly Love*, he says: \"You do not need the exhortations ([Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_language \"Greek language\"): παραγγέλματα) of Marcus.\"[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xv-8) Another possible reference, in the [Greek Anthology](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_Anthology \"Greek Anthology\"), is an epigram dedicated to \"the Book of Marcus,\" which has been attributed to the 7th century [Byzantine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Byzantine_Empire \"Byzantine Empire\") scholar [Theophylact Simocatta](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Theophylact_Simocatta \"Theophylact Simocatta\").[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-hadot_24-9)\n\n### Medieval\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=5 \"Edit section: Medieval\")\\]\n\nThe first direct mention of the work comes from [Arethas of Caesarea](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arethas_of_Caesarea \"Arethas of Caesarea\") (c. 860–935), a bishop who was a great collector of manuscripts.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvi-10) At some date before 907 he sent a volume of the *Meditations* to Demetrius, [Archbishop of Heracleia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Archdiocese_of_Heraclea_in_Europe&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Archdiocese of Heraclea in Europe (page does not exist)\") \\[[it](https:\/\/it.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arcidiocesi_di_Eraclea_di_Europa \"it:Arcidiocesi di Eraclea di Europa\")\\], with a letter saying: \"I have had for some time an old copy of the Emperor Marcus' most profitable book, so old indeed that it is altogether falling to pieces.… This I have had copied and am able to hand down to posterity in its new dress.\"[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvii-11) Arethas also mentions the work in marginal notes (*[scholia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Scholia \"Scholia\")*) to books by [Lucian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucian \"Lucian\") and [Dio Chrysostom](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dio_Chrysostom \"Dio Chrysostom\") where he refers to passages in the \"Treatise to Himself\" ([Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_language \"Greek language\"): τὰ εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἠθικά), and it was this title which the book bore in the manuscript from which the first printed edition was made in the 16th century.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12)[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) Arethas' own copy has now vanished, but it is thought to be the likely ancestor of the surviving manuscripts.[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvii-11) The next mention of the *Meditations* is in the *[Suda](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Suda \"Suda\")* lexicon published in the late 10th century.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12) The *Suda* calls the work \"a directing ([Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_language \"Greek language\"): ἀγωγή) of his own life by Marcus the Emperor in twelve books,\"[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) which is the first mention of a division of the work into twelve books.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12) The *Suda* makes use of some thirty quotations taken from books I, III, IV, V, IX, and XI.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) Around 1150, [John Tzetzes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Tzetzes \"John Tzetzes\"), a grammarian of Constantinople, quotes passages from Books IV and V attributing them to Marcus.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) About 200 years later [Nicephorus Callistus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nicephorus_Callistus \"Nicephorus Callistus\") (c. 1295–1360) in his *Ecclesiastical History* writes that \"Marcus Antoninus composed a book for the education of his son Marcus \\[i.e. [Commodus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Commodus \"Commodus\")\\], full of all worldly ([Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_language \"Greek language\"): κοσμικῆς) experience and instruction.\"[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13)[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xx-14) The *Meditations* is thereafter quoted in many Greek compilations from the 14th to 16th centuries.[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xx-14) This, specifically after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, as it was among the Greek texts reintroduced by fleeing scholars to European intellectual circles.[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-15)\n\nThe present-day text is based almost entirely upon two manuscripts. One is the *Codex Palatinus* (P), also known as the *Codex Toxitanus* (T), that was first published in 1558–59 but is now lost.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) The other manuscript is the *Codex Vaticanus 1950* (A) in the [Vatican Library](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vatican_Library \"Vatican Library\"),[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) which passed there from the collection of [Stefano Gradi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stefano_Gradi \"Stefano Gradi\") in 1683.[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xix-17) This is a 14th-century manuscript which survives in a very corrupt state, and about forty-two lines have dropped out by accidental omissions.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16)[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-18) Other manuscripts are of little independent value for reconstructing the text.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxii-19) The main ones are the *Codex Darmstadtinus 2773* (D) with 112 extracts from books I–IX, and the *Codex Parisinus 319* (C) with 29 extracts from Books I–IV.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16)\n\n### Modern\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=6 \"Edit section: Modern\")\\]\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Library_Walk_35.JPG\/250px-Library_Walk_35.JPG)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Library_Walk_35.JPG)\n\n\"Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered\"\n\nThe modern history of the *Meditations* dates from the issue of the first printed edition (*[editio princeps](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Editio_princeps \"Editio princeps\")*) by [Wilhelm Xylander](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wilhelm_Xylander \"Wilhelm Xylander\") in 1558 or 1559.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) It was published at the instigation of [Conrad Gesner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conrad_Gesner \"Conrad Gesner\") and printed by his cousin Andreas Gesner at [Zürich](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Z%C3%BCrich \"Zürich\").[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) The book was bound with a work by [Marinus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marinus_of_Neapolis \"Marinus of Neapolis\") (*Proclus vel De Felicitate*, also a first edition).[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) To the *Meditations* was added a Latin translation by Xylander who also included brief notes.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) Conrad Gesner stated in his dedicatory letter that he \"received the books of Marcus from the gifted poet [Michael Toxites](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Toxites \"Michael Toxites\") from the library of [Otto Heinrich, Prince Palatine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Otto_Henry,_Elector_Palatine \"Otto Henry, Elector Palatine\")\", i.e. from the collection at [Heidelberg University](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heidelberg_University \"Heidelberg University\").[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) The importance of this edition of the *Meditations* is that the manuscript from which it was printed is now lost, so that it is one of the two principal sources of all modern texts.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) [Gilbert Murray](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gilbert_Murray \"Gilbert Murray\") compares the work to [Jean-Jacques Rousseau's](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau \"Jean-Jacques Rousseau\") *[Confessions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Confessions_\\(Rousseau\\) \"Confessions (Rousseau)\")* and [St. Augustine's](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Augustine_of_Hippo \"Augustine of Hippo\") *[Confessions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Confessions_\\(Augustine\\) \"Confessions (Augustine)\")*.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-21) In the Introduction to his 1964 translation of *Meditations*, the Anglican priest [Maxwell Staniforth](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maxwell_Staniforth \"Maxwell Staniforth\") discussed the profound impact of [Stoicism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoicism \"Stoicism\") on [Christianity](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christianity \"Christianity\").[\\[22\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-22) Rees (1992) calls the *Meditations* \"unendingly moving and inspiring,\" but does not offer them up as works of original philosophy, though he does find an element of Marcus' Stoic philosophy in the philosophical system of [Immanuel Kant](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Immanuel_Kant \"Immanuel Kant\").[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-Rees-23)\n\n[Wen Jiabao](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wen_Jiabao \"Wen Jiabao\"), the former Prime Minister of China, has said that he has read the *Meditations* a hundred times. He also stated that he was \"very deeply impressed\" by the work.[\\[24\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-24) It has been described as \"a favorite\" of former United States President [Bill Clinton](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bill_Clinton \"Bill Clinton\").[\\[25\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-25)\n\n## Editions\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=7 \"Edit section: Editions\")\\]\n\nThe *[editio princeps](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Editio_princeps \"Editio princeps\")* (first print edition) of the original Greek was published by [Conrad Gessner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conrad_Gessner \"Conrad Gessner\") and his cousin Andreas in 1559. Both it and the accompanying Latin translation were produced by [Wilhelm Xylander](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wilhelm_Xylander \"Wilhelm Xylander\"). His source was a manuscript from [Heidelberg University](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heidelberg_University \"Heidelberg University\"), provided by [Michael Toxites](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Toxites \"Michael Toxites\"). By 1568, when Xylander completed his second edition, he no longer had access to the source and it has been lost ever since.[\\[26\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-26)[\\[27\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-FOOTNOTECeporina201254-27) The first English translation was published in 1634 by [Meric Casaubon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meric_Casaubon \"Meric Casaubon\").\n\nSome popular English translations include:\n\n- [Francis Hutcheson](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Francis_Hutcheson_\\(philosopher\\) \"Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)\"), and James Moore (1742). *The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*. Indianapolis: [Liberty Fund](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Liberty_Fund \"Liberty Fund\"), 2008. Originally printed by [Foulis Press](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robert_Foulis_\\(printer\\) \"Robert Foulis (printer)\").\n- [Richard Graves](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Richard_Graves \"Richard Graves\") (1792). *Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, \\&c., by R. Graves*, 1792; new edition, Halifax, 1826.\n- [George Long](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Long_\\(scholar\\) \"George Long (scholar)\") (1862). *The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*; reprinted many times, including in Vol. 2 of the [Harvard Classics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harvard_Classics \"Harvard Classics\").\n- [Chrystal, George W](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Chrystal_\\(civil_servant\\) \"George Chrystal (civil servant)\"). (1902). *The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: A New Rendering Based on the Foulis Translation of 1742*, (Edinburgh: O. Schulze and Co.; London: S. C. Brown and Co., 1902). [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [9781977864116](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/9781977864116 \"Special:BookSources\/9781977864116\")\n- C. R. Haines (1916). *Marcus Aurelius*. [Loeb Classical Library](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Loeb_Classical_Library \"Loeb Classical Library\").\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0674990641](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0674990641 \"Special:BookSources\/0674990641\")\n- [A. S. L. Farquharson](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/A._S._L._Farquharson \"A. S. L. Farquharson\") (1944). *Marcus Aurelius Meditations*. [Everyman's Library](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Everyman%27s_Library \"Everyman's Library\") reprint edition (1992)\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0679412719](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0679412719 \"Special:BookSources\/0679412719\")\n  . [Oxford World's Classics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oxford_World%27s_Classics \"Oxford World's Classics\") revised edition (1998)\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0199540594](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0199540594 \"Special:BookSources\/0199540594\")\n- Classics Club (1945). *Meditations. Marcus Aurelius and his times*. Walter J. Black, Inc. New York.\n- [Maxwell Staniforth](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maxwell_Staniforth \"Maxwell Staniforth\") (1969). *Meditations*. Penguin.\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0140441409](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0140441409 \"Special:BookSources\/0140441409\")\n- Gregory Hays (2002). *Meditations*. Random House.\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0679642609](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0679642609 \"Special:BookSources\/0679642609\")\n  (181 pages)\n- C. Scot Hicks, David V. Hicks (2002). *The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations*. Simon & Schuster.\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0743233832](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0743233832 \"Special:BookSources\/0743233832\")\n- [Martin Hammond](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Martin_Hammond \"Martin Hammond\") (2006). *Meditations*. Penguin Classics.\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0140449337](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0140449337 \"Special:BookSources\/0140449337\")\n- [Jacob Needleman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jacob_Needleman \"Jacob Needleman\"), and John P. Piazza (2008) *The Essential Marcus Aurelius*. J. P. Tarcher.\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [978-1585426171](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-1585426171 \"Special:BookSources\/978-1585426171\")\n  (111 pages)\n- Robin Hard, and Christopher Gill (2011). *Meditations with selected correspondence*. Oxford University Press\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [978-0199573202](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0199573202 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0199573202\")\n- [Robin Waterfield](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robin_Waterfield \"Robin Waterfield\") (2021). *Meditations: The Annotated Edition*. Basic Books.\n  [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [978-1-5416-7385-4](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-1-5416-7385-4 \"Special:BookSources\/978-1-5416-7385-4\")\n\n## See also\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=8 \"Edit section: See also\")\\]\n\n- ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/b\/bb\/SPQRomani.svg\/40px-SPQRomani.svg.png)[Ancient Rome portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Ancient_Rome \"Portal:Ancient Rome\")\n- ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Socrates.png\/20px-Socrates.png)[Philosophy portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Philosophy \"Portal:Philosophy\")\n\n- [John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Bourchier,_2nd_Baron_Berners \"John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners\")\n- *[Memento mori](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Memento_mori \"Memento mori\")*\n\n## References\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=9 \"Edit section: References\")\\]\n\n1. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-1)** Swain, Simon (1996). *Hellenism and Empire*. Oxford University Press. p. 29. \"Close imitation of [Attic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Attic_Greek \"Attic Greek\") was not required because [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") wrote in a philosophical context without thought of publication. [Galen](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Galen \"Galen\")'s many writings in what he calls 'the common dialect' are another excellent example of non-atticizing but highly educated Greek.\"\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-2)** [Iain King](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iain_King \"Iain King\") suggests the books may also have been written for mental stimulation, as Aurelius was removed from the cultural and intellectual life of Rome for the first time in his life. Source: [Thinker At War: Marcus Aurelius](http:\/\/www.military-history.org\/articles\/thinkers-at-war-marcus-aurelius.htm) published August 2014, accessed November 2014.\n3. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-3)** [*The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated from the Greek. By Jeremy Collier*](https:\/\/dn720006.ca.archive.org\/0\/items\/meditationsofmar00marc\/meditationsofmar00marc.pdf), London, 1887.\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-4)** Sellars, John. 23 October 2011. \"[Marcus Aurelius](http:\/\/www.iep.utm.edu\/marcus\/).\" *[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy \"Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy\")*.\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-5)** Roberts, John, ed. 23 October 2011. \"[Aurēlius, Marcus](https:\/\/www.oxfordreference.com\/view\/10.1093\/acref\/9780192801463.001.0001\/acref-9780192801463-e-290?rskey=jNKHnH&result=282).\" *The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World*.\n6. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-hadot_22_6-0)** [Hadot 1998](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFHadot1998), p. 22\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-7)**\n   Birley, Anthony (2012). *Marcus Aurelius: A Biography*. Routledge. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [978-1134695690](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-1134695690 \"Special:BookSources\/978-1134695690\")\n   \n   .\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xv_8-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xv\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-hadot_24_9-0)** [Hadot 1998](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFHadot1998), p. 24\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvi_10-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xvi\n11. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvii_11-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvii_11-1) [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xvii\n12. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-2) [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xviii\n13. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-3) [***e***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-4) [Haines 1916](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFHaines1916), p. xv\n14. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xx_14-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xx_14-1) [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xx\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-15)**\n    Hays, Gregory (2002). *\"Introduction\" in Meditations: A New Translation*. The Modern Library. p. 51. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0679642602](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0679642602 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0679642602\")\n    \n    .\n16. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-3) [Haines 1916](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFHaines1916), p. xvi\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xix_17-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xix\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-18)**\n    Hall, Frederick William (1913). *A companion to classical texts*. Clarendon Press. p. 251.\n19. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxii_19-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xxii\n20. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-3) [***e***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-4) [***f***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-5) [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xxvii\n21. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-21)**\n    Murray, Gilbert (2002) \\[1912\\]. *Five Stages of Greek Religion* (3rd ed.). Dover Publications. pp. 168–169\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0486425009](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0486425009 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0486425009\")\n    \n    .\n22. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-22)**\n    [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") (1964). [*Meditations*](https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/meditations0000marc_m9z0). London: [Penguin Books](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Penguin_Books \"Penguin Books\"). pp. [2](https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/meditations0000marc_m9z0\/page\/n63)–27. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0140441406](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0140441406 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0140441406\")\n    \n    .\n    \n    `{{cite book}}`: ISBN \/ Date incompatibility ([help](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date \"Help:CS1 errors\"))\n23. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-Rees_23-0)**\n    Rees, D. A. 1992. \"Introduction.\" In *Meditations*, edited by A. S. L. Farquhrson (1944). New York: Alfred A. Knopf.\n    \n    [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0679412717](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0679412717 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0679412717\")\n    \n    . p. xvii.\n24. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-24)** [Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Interviewed](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/chinese-prime-minister-wen-jiabao-interviewed-89187), *Newsweek*\n25. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-25)**\n    [\"An American reader: Bill Clinton\"](http:\/\/latimesblogs.latimes.com\/jacketcopy\/2009\/07\/america-reads-bill-clinton.html). *[Los Angeles Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Los_Angeles_Times \"Los Angeles Times\")*. 2009-07-04.\n26. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-26)** [Marcus Aurelius, *De seipso, seu vita sua, libri 12*](https:\/\/www.digitale-sammlungen.de\/en\/view\/bsb10169588?page=1) ed. and trans. by Xylander. Zürich: Andreas Gessner, 1558.\n27. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECeporina201254_27-0)** [Ceporina 2012](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFCeporina2012), p. 54.\n\n### Sources\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=10 \"Edit section: Sources\")\\]\n\n- Ceporina, Matteo (2012), \"The Meditations\", in Marcel van Ackeren (ed.), *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius*, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 45–61\n- Farquharson, A. S. L. (1944), \"Introduction\", *The Meditations Of The Emperor Marcus Antoninus*, vol. 1, Oxford University Press\n- Hadot, Pierre (1998), *The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*, Harvard University Press, [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [978-0674461710](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0674461710 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0674461710\")\n- Haines, C. R. (1916), \"Introduction\", *The communings with himself of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*, William Heinemann\n\n## Further reading\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=11 \"Edit section: Further reading\")\\]\n\n- Annas, Julia. 2004. \"Marcus Aurelius: Ethics and Its Background.\" *Rhizai: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science* 2:103–119.\n- Berryman, Sylvia Ann. 2010. *The Puppet and the Sage: Images of the Self in Marcus Aurelius* *Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy* 38: 187–209.\n- Dickson, Keith. 2009. \"Oneself as Others: Aurelius and Autobiography.\" *Arethusa* 42.1: 99–125.\n- Gill, Christopher. 2012. \"Marcus and Previous Stoic Literature.\" In *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.* Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 382–395. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.\n- Hadot, Pierre. 2001. *The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.* Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Kraye, Jill. 2012. \"Marcus Aurelius and Neostoicism in Early Modern Philosophy.\" In *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.* Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 515–531. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.\n- Rees, D. A. 2000. \"Joseph Bryennius and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.\" *Classical Quarterly* 52.2: 584–596.\n- Robertson, D. 2019. [*How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=xGBbDwAAQBAJ). New York: St. Martin's Press.\n- Rutherford, R. B. 1989. *The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: A Study.* Oxford: Oxford University Press.\n- Stephens, William O. 2012. [*Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=qxT-TeS-JOIC). London and New York: Bloomsbury (Continuum).\n- Wolf, Edita. 2016. \"Others as Matter of Indifference in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.\" *Acta Universitatis Carolinae. Graecolatina Pragensia* 2:13–23.\n\n## External links\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=12 \"Edit section: External links\")\\]\n\n[![Wikisource logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg)\n\nEnglish [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\") has original text related to this article:\n\n**[Meditations](https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/en:Author:Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus \"s:en:Author:Marcus Aurelius Antoninus\")**\n\n[![Wikisource logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg)\n\nGreek [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\") has original text related to this article:\n\n**[Meditations](https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/el:%CE%A4%E1%BD%B0_%CE%B5%E1%BC%B0%CF%82_%E1%BC%91%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%84%CF%8C%CE%BD \"s:el:Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν\")**\n\n![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/f\/fa\/Wikiquote-logo.svg\/40px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)\n\nWikiquote has quotations related to ***[Meditations](https:\/\/en.wikiquote.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"q:Marcus Aurelius\")***.\n\n[![Wikimedia Commons logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Commons-logo.svg\/40px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Commons-logo.svg)\n\nWikimedia Commons has media related to [Meditations by Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Meditations_by_Marcus_Aurelius \"commons:Category:Meditations by Marcus Aurelius\").\n\n### Studies\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=13 \"Edit section: Studies\")\\]\n\n- Sellars, John. [\"Marcus Aurelius\"](https:\/\/iep.utm.edu\/marcus). In Fieser, James; Dowden, Bradley (eds.). *[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy \"Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy\")*. [ISSN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISSN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISSN (identifier)\") [2161-0002](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/issn\/2161-0002). [OCLC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OCLC_\\(identifier\\) \"OCLC (identifier)\") [37741658](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/oclc\/37741658).\n\n### Translations\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=14 \"Edit section: Translations\")\\]\n\n- [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/20px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) [The Thoughts Of The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus](https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/The_Thoughts_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus \"s:The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus\"). translated by [George Long](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Long_\\(scholar\\) \"George Long (scholar)\"), at *[Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\")*\n- *[Meditations](https:\/\/standardebooks.org\/ebooks\/marcus-aurelius\/meditations\/george-long)* at [Standard Ebooks](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Standard_Ebooks \"Standard Ebooks\")\n- [The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, by George Long](https:\/\/www.stoictherapy.com\/elibrary-meditations-long), 1862, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary\n- [*Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself: an English translation with introductory study on stoicism and the last of the Stoics*, by G.H. Rendall](https:\/\/www.stoictherapy.com\/elibrary-meditations-rendall), 1898, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary\n- [*The Meditations* by Marcus Aurelius](http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/ebooks\/2680) at *[Project Gutenberg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Project_Gutenberg \"Project Gutenberg\")*, [gutenberg.org](http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/)\n- ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/21\/Speaker_Icon.svg\/20px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png) [*The Meditations*](https:\/\/librivox.org\/search?title=The+Meditations&author=Aurelius&reader=&keywords=&genre_id=0&status=all&project_type=either&recorded_language=&sort_order=catalog_date&search_page=1&search_form=advanced) public domain audiobook at [LibriVox](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LibriVox \"LibriVox\")\n- [*Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, \\&c., by R. Graves](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=3uQIAAAAQAAJ), 1792, at *[Google Books](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google_Books \"Google Books\")*\n- [Multiple editions of the *Meditations*](https:\/\/archive.org\/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Marcus%20Aurelius%22) at the *[Internet Archive](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_Archive \"Internet Archive\")*\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Marcus_Aurelius_navbox \"Template:Marcus Aurelius navbox\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Marcus_Aurelius_navbox \"Template talk:Marcus Aurelius navbox\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Marcus_Aurelius_navbox \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Marcus Aurelius navbox\")[Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| [Early life](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Early_life_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Early life of Marcus Aurelius\") [Reign](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reign_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Reign of Marcus Aurelius\") |   |\n| Military campaigns |   |\n|   |   |\n| [Roman–Parthian War of 161–166](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roman%E2%80%93Parthian_War_of_161%E2%80%93166 \"Roman–Parthian War of 161–166\") | [Siege of Edessa (163)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siege_of_Edessa_\\(163\\) \"Siege of Edessa (163)\") [Siege of Edessa (165)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siege_of_Edessa_\\(165\\) \"Siege of Edessa (165)\") [Battle of Dura-Europos (165)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Battle_of_Dura-Europos_\\(165\\)&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Battle of Dura-Europos (165) (page does not exist)\") [Battle of Ctesiphon (165)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Battle_of_Ctesiphon_\\(165\\) \"Battle of Ctesiphon (165)\") |\n| [Marcomannic Wars](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcomannic_Wars \"Marcomannic Wars\") | [Roman units](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_Roman_military_units_that_participated_in_the_Marcomannic_Wars \"List of Roman military units that participated in the Marcomannic Wars\") [Battle of Carnuntum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Battle_of_Carnuntum \"Battle of Carnuntum\") |\n| Events | [Antonine Plague](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antonine_Plague \"Antonine Plague\") |\n| Buildings | [Temple of Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Temple_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Temple of Marcus Aurelius\") [Arch of Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arch_of_Marcus_Aurelius_\\(Rome\\) \"Arch of Marcus Aurelius (Rome)\") [Column of Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Column_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Column of Marcus Aurelius\") |\n| Works | *[Meditations]()* [Philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Philosophy_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius\") |\n| [Family](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nerva%E2%80%93Antonine_dynasty \"Nerva–Antonine dynasty\") |   |\n|   |   |\n| Close family | [Marcus Annius Verus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Annius_Verus_\\(father_of_Marcus_Aurelius\\) \"Marcus Annius Verus (father of Marcus Aurelius)\") (father) [Domitia Lucilla](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Domitia_Lucilla_\\(mother_of_Marcus_Aurelius\\) \"Domitia Lucilla (mother of Marcus Aurelius)\") (mother) [Annia Cornificia Faustina](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Annia_Cornificia_Faustina \"Annia Cornificia Faustina\") (sister) [Marcus Annius Verus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Annius_Verus_\\(grandfather_of_Marcus_Aurelius\\) \"Marcus Annius Verus (grandfather of Marcus Aurelius)\") (grandfather, adoptive father) [Rupilia Faustina](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rupilia_Faustina \"Rupilia Faustina\") (grandmother) [Antoninus Pius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antoninus_Pius \"Antoninus Pius\") (adoptive father, father-in-law) [Faustina the Elder](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Faustina_the_Elder \"Faustina the Elder\") (aunt, mother-in-law) [Marcus Annius Libo](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Annius_Libo \"Marcus Annius Libo\") (uncle) [Ceionia Fabia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ceionia_Fabia \"Ceionia Fabia\") (fiancee) [Faustina the Younger](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Faustina_the_Younger \"Faustina the Younger\") (wife) |\n| Children | [Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Annia_Aurelia_Galeria_Lucilla \"Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla\") [Annia Galeria Aurelia Faustina](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Annia_Galeria_Aurelia_Faustina \"Annia Galeria Aurelia Faustina\") [Annia Aurelia Fadilla](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fadilla \"Fadilla\") [Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Annia_Cornificia_Faustina_Minor \"Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor\") [Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucius_Aurelius_Commodus_Antoninus \"Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus\") [Marcus Annius Verus Caesar](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Annius_Verus_Caesar \"Marcus Annius Verus Caesar\") [Vibia Aurelia Sabina](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vibia_Aurelia_Sabina \"Vibia Aurelia Sabina\") |\n| Circle |   |\n|   |   |\n| Statesmen | [Lucius Verus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucius_Verus \"Lucius Verus\") (co-emperor) [Gaius Aufidius Victorinus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gaius_Aufidius_Victorinus \"Gaius Aufidius Victorinus\") [Lucius Catilius Severus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucius_Catilius_Severus \"Lucius Catilius Severus\") [Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucius_Dasumius_Tullius_Tuscus \"Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus\") [Tiberius Haterius Saturnius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Tiberius_Haterius_Saturnius&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Tiberius Haterius Saturnius (page does not exist)\") [Marcus Iallius Bassus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Iallius_Bassus \"Marcus Iallius Bassus\") [Gaius Julius Sohaemus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sohaemus_of_Armenia \"Sohaemus of Armenia\") |\n| Generals | [Avidius Cassius‎](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avidius_Cassius \"Avidius Cassius\") [Sextus Calpurnius Agricola](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sextus_Calpurnius_Agricola \"Sextus Calpurnius Agricola\") [Tiberius Claudius Candidus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tiberius_Claudius_Candidus \"Tiberius Claudius Candidus\") [Marcus Claudius Fronto](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Claudius_Fronto \"Marcus Claudius Fronto\") [Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tiberius_Claudius_Pompeianus \"Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus\") [Gaius Vettius Sabinianus Julius Hospes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gaius_Vettius_Sabinianus_Julius_Hospes \"Gaius Vettius Sabinianus Julius Hospes\") |\n| Tutors | [Trosius Aper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trosius_Aper \"Trosius Aper\") [Eutychius Proclus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eutychius_Proclus \"Eutychius Proclus\") [Quintus Junius Rusticus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quintus_Junius_Rusticus \"Quintus Junius Rusticus\") [Diognetus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diognetus \"Diognetus\") [Claudius Maximus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Claudius_Maximus \"Claudius Maximus\") [Apollonius of Chalcedon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollonius_of_Chalcedon \"Apollonius of Chalcedon\") [Alexander of Cotiaeum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alexander_of_Cotiaeum \"Alexander of Cotiaeum\") [Trosius Aper](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trosius_Aper \"Trosius Aper\") [Tuticius Proculus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tuticius_Proculus \"Tuticius Proculus\") [Herodes Atticus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Herodes_Atticus \"Herodes Atticus\") [Marcus Cornelius Fronto](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Cornelius_Fronto \"Marcus Cornelius Fronto\") [Lucius Volusius Maecianus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucius_Volusius_Maecianus \"Lucius Volusius Maecianus\") [Sextus of Chaeronea](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sextus_of_Chaeronea \"Sextus of Chaeronea\") |\n| Freedmen | [Agaclytus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Agaclytus_\\(freedman\\) \"Agaclytus (freedman)\") |\n| Cultural depictions |   |\n|   |   |\n| Ancient era | [Great Antonine Altar](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Great_Antonine_Altar \"Great Antonine Altar\") [Equestrian statue](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Equestrian_statue_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius\") [50 euro cent coin](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Italian_euro_coins \"Italian euro coins\") [Golden bust](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Golden_bust_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Golden bust of Marcus Aurelius\") |\n|   |   |\n| Modern era | *[Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Considerations_on_the_Causes_of_the_Greatness_of_the_Romans_and_their_Decline \"Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline\")* *[Last Words of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Last_Words_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius \"Last Words of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius\")* |\n|   |   |\n| Contemporary era | [*The Fall of the Roman Empire*](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Fall_of_the_Roman_Empire_\\(film\\) \"The Fall of the Roman Empire (film)\") *[The Two Gladiators](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Two_Gladiators \"The Two Gladiators\")* *[A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/A_God_Strolling_in_the_Cool_of_the_Evening \"A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening\")* [*Gladiator*](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gladiator_\\(2000_film\\) \"Gladiator (2000 film)\") |\n| Related topics | *[Calvatone Victoria](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Calvatone_Victoria \"Calvatone Victoria\")* |\n| ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/9\/96\/Symbol_category_class.svg\/20px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png) [Category](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Marcus_Aurelius \"Category:Marcus Aurelius\") |   |\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Stoicism \"Template:Stoicism\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Stoicism \"Template talk:Stoicism\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Stoicism \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Stoicism\")[Stoicism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoicism \"Stoicism\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| [Philosophers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_Stoic_philosophers \"List of Stoic philosophers\") |   |\n|   |   |\n| Greek |   |\n|   |   |\n| [Scholarchs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Scholarch \"Scholarch\") of the Stoa | [Zeno of Citium](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zeno_of_Citium \"Zeno of Citium\") [Cleanthes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cleanthes \"Cleanthes\") [Chrysippus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chrysippus \"Chrysippus\") [Zeno of Tarsus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zeno_of_Tarsus \"Zeno of Tarsus\") [Diogenes of Babylon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diogenes_of_Babylon \"Diogenes of Babylon\") [Antipater of Tarsus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antipater_of_Tarsus \"Antipater of Tarsus\") [Panaetius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panaetius \"Panaetius\") |\n| Roman | [Publius Rutilius Rufus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Publius_Rutilius_Rufus \"Publius Rutilius Rufus\") [Quintus Lucilius Balbus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quintus_Lucilius_Balbus \"Quintus Lucilius Balbus\") [Cato the Younger](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cato_the_Younger \"Cato the Younger\") [Quintus Sextius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quintus_Sextius \"Quintus Sextius\") [Attalus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Attalus_\\(Stoic\\) \"Attalus (Stoic)\") [Papirius Fabianus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Papirius_Fabianus \"Papirius Fabianus\") [Seneca](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Seneca_the_Younger \"Seneca the Younger\") [Cornutus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucius_Annaeus_Cornutus \"Lucius Annaeus Cornutus\") [Chaeremon of Alexandria](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chaeremon_of_Alexandria \"Chaeremon of Alexandria\") [Paconius Agrippinus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paconius_Agrippinus \"Paconius Agrippinus\") [Persius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Persius \"Persius\") [Helvidius Priscus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Helvidius_Priscus \"Helvidius Priscus\") [Arulenus Rusticus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arulenus_Rusticus \"Arulenus Rusticus\") [Musonius Rufus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gaius_Musonius_Rufus \"Gaius Musonius Rufus\") [Thrasea Paetus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Publius_Clodius_Thrasea_Paetus \"Publius Clodius Thrasea Paetus\") [Rubellius Plautus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rubellius_Plautus \"Rubellius Plautus\") [Barea Soranus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Barea_Soranus \"Barea Soranus\") [Publius Egnatius Celer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Publius_Egnatius_Celer \"Publius Egnatius Celer\") [Mara bar Serapion](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mara_bar_Serapion \"Mara bar Serapion\") [Euphrates](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Euphrates_the_Stoic \"Euphrates the Stoic\") [Epictetus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Epictetus \"Epictetus\") [Hierocles](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hierocles_\\(Stoic\\) \"Hierocles (Stoic)\") [Claudius Maximus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Claudius_Maximus \"Claudius Maximus\") [Basilides](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basilides_\\(Stoic\\) \"Basilides (Stoic)\") [Apollonius of Chalcedon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apollonius_of_Chalcedon \"Apollonius of Chalcedon\") [Junius Rusticus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Junius_Rusticus \"Junius Rusticus\") [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") ([Philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Philosophy_of_Marcus_Aurelius \"Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius\")) |\n| [Philosophical concepts](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Glossary_of_Stoicism_terms \"Glossary of Stoicism terms\") |   |\n|   |   |\n| Logic | *[Logos](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Logos \"Logos\")* *[Adiaphora](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adiaphora \"Adiaphora\")* *[Katalepsis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Katalepsis \"Katalepsis\")* *[Diairesis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Diairesis \"Diairesis\")* |\n| Physics | *[Physis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Physis \"Physis\")* [Fire](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fire_\\(classical_element\\) \"Fire (classical element)\") *[Pneuma](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pneuma \"Pneuma\")* |\n| Ethics | *[Pathos](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoic_passions \"Stoic passions\")* *[Apatheia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Apatheia \"Apatheia\")* *[Eudaimonia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eudaimonia \"Eudaimonia\")* *[Kathekon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kathekon \"Kathekon\")* [Negative visualization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Negative_visualization \"Negative visualization\") *[Oikeiôsis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oikei%C3%B4sis \"Oikeiôsis\")* *[Prohairesis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prohairesis \"Prohairesis\")* *[Sophos](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sage_\\(philosophy\\) \"Sage (philosophy)\")* |\n| Works | [*On Passions* (Chrysippus)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/On_Passions \"On Passions\") *[Paradoxa Stoicorum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paradoxa_Stoicorum \"Paradoxa Stoicorum\")* [*Letters to Lucilius* (Seneca)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Epistulae_Morales_ad_Lucilium \"Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium\") [Seneca's Essays](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Seneca_the_Younger#Essays \"Seneca the Younger\") *[De Providentia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Providentia \"De Providentia\")* *[De Brevitate Vitae](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Brevitate_Vitae_\\(Seneca\\) \"De Brevitate Vitae (Seneca)\")* *[De Vita Beata](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Vita_Beata \"De Vita Beata\")* *[De Beneficiis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Beneficiis \"De Beneficiis\")* *[De Clementia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Clementia \"De Clementia\")* *[De Tranquillitate Animi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Tranquillitate_Animi \"De Tranquillitate Animi\")* *[De Ira](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Ira \"De Ira\")* *[De Otio](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Otio \"De Otio\")* *[De Constantia Sapientis](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/De_Constantia_Sapientis \"De Constantia Sapientis\")* [Seneca's Consolations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Seneca%27s_Consolations \"Seneca's Consolations\") [*Lectures* (Musonius Rufus)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lectures_\\(Musonius_Rufus\\) \"Lectures (Musonius Rufus)\") *[Discourses of Epictetus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Discourses_of_Epictetus \"Discourses of Epictetus\")* *[Enchiridion of Epictetus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Enchiridion_of_Epictetus \"Enchiridion of Epictetus\")* [*Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*]() *[Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoicorum_Veterum_Fragmenta \"Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta\")* |\n| Related articles | [Stoa Poikile](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoa_Poikile \"Stoa Poikile\") [Stoic Opposition](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoic_Opposition \"Stoic Opposition\") [Neostoicism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Neostoicism \"Neostoicism\") |\n\n| [Authority control databases](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Authority_control \"Help:Authority control\") [![Edit this at Wikidata](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/8\/8a\/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg\/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png)](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q1152283#identifiers \"Edit this at Wikidata\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| International | [VIAF](https:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/312359587) [2](https:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/184493648) [3](https:\/\/viaf.org\/viaf\/179808791) [GND](https:\/\/d-nb.info\/gnd\/4131612-5) |\n| National | [United States](https:\/\/id.loc.gov\/authorities\/n80058356) [France](https:\/\/catalogue.bnf.fr\/ark:\/12148\/cb12009379q) [BnF data](https:\/\/data.bnf.fr\/ark:\/12148\/cb12009379q) [Japan](https:\/\/id.ndl.go.jp\/auth\/ndlna\/01173219) [Spain](https:\/\/datos.bne.es\/resource\/XX2054861) [Sweden](https:\/\/libris.kb.se\/q1jnhn1znxlb3nhz) [Poland](https:\/\/dbn.bn.org.pl\/descriptor-details\/9810648970505606) [Vatican](https:\/\/wikidata-externalid-url.toolforge.org\/?p=8034&url_prefix=https:\/\/opac.vatlib.it\/auth\/detail\/&id=492\/8717) [Israel](https:\/\/www.nli.org.il\/en\/authorities\/987007568067505171) |\n| Other | [IdRef](https:\/\/www.idref.fr\/031718019) [2](https:\/\/www.idref.fr\/028212630) [Open Library](https:\/\/openlibrary.org\/works\/OL1317211W?mode=all) [Yale LUX](https:\/\/lux.collections.yale.edu\/view\/text\/621dedc5-4ca8-44c2-a5bb-77b43bc30824) |\n\n![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:CentralAutoLogin\/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1)\n\nRetrieved from \"<https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&oldid=1345553465>\"\n\n[Categories](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Category \"Help:Category\"):\n\n- [2nd-century books](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:2nd-century_books \"Category:2nd-century books\")\n- [Nerva–Antonine dynasty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Nerva%E2%80%93Antonine_dynasty \"Category:Nerva–Antonine dynasty\")\n- [Ancient Stoic literature](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Ancient_Stoic_literature \"Category:Ancient Stoic literature\")\n- [Texts in Koine Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Texts_in_Koine_Greek \"Category:Texts in Koine Greek\")\n- [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Marcus_Aurelius \"Category:Marcus Aurelius\")\n- [Ethics literature](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Ethics_literature \"Category:Ethics literature\")\n- [Works by Roman Emperors](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Works_by_Roman_Emperors \"Category:Works by Roman Emperors\")\n\nHidden categories:\n\n- [CS1 errors: ISBN date](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:CS1_errors:_ISBN_date \"Category:CS1 errors: ISBN date\")\n- [Articles with short description](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_with_short_description \"Category:Articles with short description\")\n- [Short description is different from Wikidata](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata \"Category:Short description is different from Wikidata\")\n- [Articles containing Koine Greek-language text](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_containing_Koine_Greek-language_text \"Category:Articles containing Koine Greek-language text\")\n- [Articles containing Greek-language text](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_containing_Greek-language_text \"Category:Articles containing Greek-language text\")\n- [Commons category link is on Wikidata](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Commons_category_link_is_on_Wikidata \"Category:Commons category link is on Wikidata\")\n- [Articles with Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy links](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_with_Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy_links \"Category:Articles with Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy links\")\n- [Articles with LibriVox links](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_with_LibriVox_links \"Category:Articles with LibriVox links\")\n\n- This page was last edited on 26 March 2026, at 18:37 (UTC).\n- Text is available under the [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License \"Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License\"); additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the [Terms of Use](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Terms_of_Use \"foundation:Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Terms of Use\") and [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy_policy \"foundation:Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy policy\"). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the [Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.](https:\/\/wikimediafoundation.org\/), a non-profit organization.\n\n- [Privacy policy](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy_policy)\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About)\n- [Disclaimers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer)\n- [Contact Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us)\n- [Legal & safety contacts](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Legal:Wikimedia_Foundation_Legal_and_Safety_Contact_Information)\n- [Code of Conduct](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct)\n- [Developers](https:\/\/developer.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [Statistics](https:\/\/stats.wikimedia.org\/#\/en.wikipedia.org)\n- [Cookie statement](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Cookie_statement)\n- [Mobile view](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile)\n\n- [![Wikimedia Foundation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/footer\/wikimedia.svg)](https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [![Powered by MediaWiki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/resources\/assets\/mediawiki_compact.svg)](https:\/\/www.mediawiki.org\/)\n\nSearch\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\n*Meditations*\n\n40 languages\n\n[Add topic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations)","attrs_readable_markdown":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\n|   |   |\n|---|---|\n| [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cc\/Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso%2C_seu_vita_sua_%28Xylander%2C_1558%29.jpg\/250px-Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso%2C_seu_vita_sua_%28Xylander%2C_1558%29.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso,_seu_vita_sua_\\(Xylander,_1558\\).jpg)[Editio princeps](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Editio_princeps \"Editio princeps\") by [Wilhelm Xylander](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wilhelm_Xylander \"Wilhelm Xylander\") in 1558 |   |\n| Author | [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") |\n| Original title | *Unknown, probably untitled* |\n| Language | [Koine Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koine_Greek \"Koine Greek\") |\n| Publication place | [Roman Empire](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roman_Empire \"Roman Empire\") |\n\n***Meditations*** ([Koine Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koine_Greek_language \"Koine Greek language\"): Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, romanized:*Ta eis heauton*, [lit.](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Literal_translation \"Literal translation\")''Things Unto Himself'') is a series of personal writings by [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\"), [Roman Emperor](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Roman_Emperor \"Roman Emperor\") from 161–180 CE, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on [Stoic philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoic_philosophy \"Stoic philosophy\").\n\nMarcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the *Meditations* in [Koine Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Koine_Greek \"Koine Greek\")[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-1) as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-2) It is possible that large portions of the work were written at [Sirmium](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sirmium \"Sirmium\"), where he spent much time planning military campaigns in AD 170–180. A portion of his work was written while he was on campaign, because internal notes reveal that the first book was \"written in the country of the [Quadi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quadi \"Quadi\"), at the Granova\"[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-3) (modern-day [Hron](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hron \"Hron\") River in [Slovakia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Slovakia \"Slovakia\")) and the second book was written at [Carnuntum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carnuntum \"Carnuntum\").\n\nIt is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published. 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.\n\n## Structure and themes\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=2 \"Edit section: Structure and themes\")\\]\n\nThe *Meditations* is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Aurelius' life. The passages in each book are not necessarily in chronological order, seeing as they were written as Aurelius' own personal musings. The style of writing that permeates the text is one that is simplified, straightforward, and perhaps reflecting Aurelius' [Stoic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoicism \"Stoicism\") perspective.\n\nA central theme to *Meditations* is the importance of analyzing one's judgment of self and others and developing a cosmic perspective:[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-4)\n\n> 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.\n\nAurelius advocates finding one's place in the universe and sees that everything came from nature, and so everything shall return to it in due time. Another strong theme is of maintaining focus and to be without distraction all the while maintaining strong ethical principles such as \"Being a good man.\"[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-5)\n\nHis Stoic ideas often involve avoiding indulgence in sensory affections, a skill which 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. An internal orderly and rational nature, or *[logos](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Logos \"Logos\"),* permeates and guides all existence. [Rationality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rationality \"Rationality\") and [clear-mindedness](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Equanimity \"Equanimity\") allow one to live in harmony with the *logos*. This allows one to rise above faulty perceptions of \"good\" and \"bad\"—things out of one's control like fame and wealth are (unlike things in one's control) irrelevant and neither good nor bad.\n\nThe early history of the *Meditations* is unknown, and its earliest clear mention by another writer dates from the early 10th century.[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-hadot_22-6) The historian [Herodian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Herodian \"Herodian\"), writing in the mid-3rd century, makes mention of Marcus' literary legacy, saying \"He was concerned with all aspects of excellence, and in his love of ancient literature he was second to no man, Roman or Greek; this is evident from all his sayings and writings which have come down to us\", a passage which may refer to the *Meditations*. The *[Historia Augusta](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Historia_Augusta \"Historia Augusta\")'*s biography of [Avidius Cassius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avidius_Cassius \"Avidius Cassius\"), thought to have been written in the 4th century, records that before Marcus set out on the [Marcomannic Wars](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcomannic_Wars \"Marcomannic Wars\"), he was asked to publish his *Precepts of Philosophy* in case something should befall him, but he instead \"for three days discussed the books of his *Exhortations* one after the other\".[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-7) A doubtful mention is made by the orator [Themistius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Themistius \"Themistius\") in about 364 C.E. In an address to the emperor [Valens](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Valens \"Valens\"), *On Brotherly Love*, he says: \"You do not need the exhortations ([Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_language \"Greek language\"): παραγγέλματα) of Marcus.\"[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xv-8) Another possible reference, in the [Greek Anthology](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_Anthology \"Greek Anthology\"), is an epigram dedicated to \"the Book of Marcus,\" which has been attributed to the 7th century [Byzantine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Byzantine_Empire \"Byzantine Empire\") scholar [Theophylact Simocatta](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Theophylact_Simocatta \"Theophylact Simocatta\").[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-hadot_24-9)\n\nThe first direct mention of the work comes from [Arethas of Caesarea](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arethas_of_Caesarea \"Arethas of Caesarea\") (c. 860–935), a bishop who was a great collector of manuscripts.[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvi-10) At some date before 907 he sent a volume of the *Meditations* to Demetrius, [Archbishop of Heracleia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Archdiocese_of_Heraclea_in_Europe&action=edit&redlink=1 \"Archdiocese of Heraclea in Europe (page does not exist)\") \\[[it](https:\/\/it.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arcidiocesi_di_Eraclea_di_Europa \"it:Arcidiocesi di Eraclea di Europa\")\\], with a letter saying: \"I have had for some time an old copy of the Emperor Marcus' most profitable book, so old indeed that it is altogether falling to pieces.… This I have had copied and am able to hand down to posterity in its new dress.\"[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvii-11) Arethas also mentions the work in marginal notes (*[scholia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Scholia \"Scholia\")*) to books by [Lucian](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lucian \"Lucian\") and [Dio Chrysostom](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dio_Chrysostom \"Dio Chrysostom\") where he refers to passages in the \"Treatise to Himself\" ([Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_language \"Greek language\"): τὰ εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἠθικά), and it was this title which the book bore in the manuscript from which the first printed edition was made in the 16th century.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12)[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) Arethas' own copy has now vanished, but it is thought to be the likely ancestor of the surviving manuscripts.[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvii-11) The next mention of the *Meditations* is in the *[Suda](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Suda \"Suda\")* lexicon published in the late 10th century.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12) The *Suda* calls the work \"a directing ([Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_language \"Greek language\"): ἀγωγή) of his own life by Marcus the Emperor in twelve books,\"[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) which is the first mention of a division of the work into twelve books.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12) The *Suda* makes use of some thirty quotations taken from books I, III, IV, V, IX, and XI.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) Around 1150, [John Tzetzes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Tzetzes \"John Tzetzes\"), a grammarian of Constantinople, quotes passages from Books IV and V attributing them to Marcus.[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) About 200 years later [Nicephorus Callistus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nicephorus_Callistus \"Nicephorus Callistus\") (c. 1295–1360) in his *Ecclesiastical History* writes that \"Marcus Antoninus composed a book for the education of his son Marcus \\[i.e. [Commodus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Commodus \"Commodus\")\\], full of all worldly ([Greek](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Greek_language \"Greek language\"): κοσμικῆς) experience and instruction.\"[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13)[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xx-14) The *Meditations* is thereafter quoted in many Greek compilations from the 14th to 16th centuries.[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xx-14) This, specifically after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, as it was among the Greek texts reintroduced by fleeing scholars to European intellectual circles.[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-15)\n\nThe present-day text is based almost entirely upon two manuscripts. One is the *Codex Palatinus* (P), also known as the *Codex Toxitanus* (T), that was first published in 1558–59 but is now lost.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) The other manuscript is the *Codex Vaticanus 1950* (A) in the [Vatican Library](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vatican_Library \"Vatican Library\"),[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) which passed there from the collection of [Stefano Gradi](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stefano_Gradi \"Stefano Gradi\") in 1683.[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xix-17) This is a 14th-century manuscript which survives in a very corrupt state, and about forty-two lines have dropped out by accidental omissions.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16)[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-18) Other manuscripts are of little independent value for reconstructing the text.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxii-19) The main ones are the *Codex Darmstadtinus 2773* (D) with 112 extracts from books I–IX, and the *Codex Parisinus 319* (C) with 29 extracts from Books I–IV.[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16)\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/e\/e1\/Library_Walk_35.JPG\/250px-Library_Walk_35.JPG)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Library_Walk_35.JPG)\n\n\"Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered\"\n\nThe modern history of the *Meditations* dates from the issue of the first printed edition (*[editio princeps](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Editio_princeps \"Editio princeps\")*) by [Wilhelm Xylander](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wilhelm_Xylander \"Wilhelm Xylander\") in 1558 or 1559.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) It was published at the instigation of [Conrad Gesner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conrad_Gesner \"Conrad Gesner\") and printed by his cousin Andreas Gesner at [Zürich](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Z%C3%BCrich \"Zürich\").[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) The book was bound with a work by [Marinus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marinus_of_Neapolis \"Marinus of Neapolis\") (*Proclus vel De Felicitate*, also a first edition).[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) To the *Meditations* was added a Latin translation by Xylander who also included brief notes.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) Conrad Gesner stated in his dedicatory letter that he \"received the books of Marcus from the gifted poet [Michael Toxites](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Toxites \"Michael Toxites\") from the library of [Otto Heinrich, Prince Palatine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Otto_Henry,_Elector_Palatine \"Otto Henry, Elector Palatine\")\", i.e. from the collection at [Heidelberg University](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heidelberg_University \"Heidelberg University\").[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) The importance of this edition of the *Meditations* is that the manuscript from which it was printed is now lost, so that it is one of the two principal sources of all modern texts.[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) [Gilbert Murray](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gilbert_Murray \"Gilbert Murray\") compares the work to [Jean-Jacques Rousseau's](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau \"Jean-Jacques Rousseau\") *[Confessions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Confessions_\\(Rousseau\\) \"Confessions (Rousseau)\")* and [St. Augustine's](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Augustine_of_Hippo \"Augustine of Hippo\") *[Confessions](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Confessions_\\(Augustine\\) \"Confessions (Augustine)\")*.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-21) In the Introduction to his 1964 translation of *Meditations*, the Anglican priest [Maxwell Staniforth](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maxwell_Staniforth \"Maxwell Staniforth\") discussed the profound impact of [Stoicism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stoicism \"Stoicism\") on [Christianity](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Christianity \"Christianity\").[\\[22\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-22) Rees (1992) calls the *Meditations* \"unendingly moving and inspiring,\" but does not offer them up as works of original philosophy, though he does find an element of Marcus' Stoic philosophy in the philosophical system of [Immanuel Kant](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Immanuel_Kant \"Immanuel Kant\").[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-Rees-23)\n\n[Wen Jiabao](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wen_Jiabao \"Wen Jiabao\"), the former Prime Minister of China, has said that he has read the *Meditations* a hundred times. He also stated that he was \"very deeply impressed\" by the work.[\\[24\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-24) It has been described as \"a favorite\" of former United States President [Bill Clinton](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bill_Clinton \"Bill Clinton\").[\\[25\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-25)\n\nThe *[editio princeps](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Editio_princeps \"Editio princeps\")* (first print edition) of the original Greek was published by [Conrad Gessner](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Conrad_Gessner \"Conrad Gessner\") and his cousin Andreas in 1559. Both it and the accompanying Latin translation were produced by [Wilhelm Xylander](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wilhelm_Xylander \"Wilhelm Xylander\"). His source was a manuscript from [Heidelberg University](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heidelberg_University \"Heidelberg University\"), provided by [Michael Toxites](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Toxites \"Michael Toxites\"). By 1568, when Xylander completed his second edition, he no longer had access to the source and it has been lost ever since.[\\[26\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-26)[\\[27\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_note-FOOTNOTECeporina201254-27) The first English translation was published in 1634 by [Meric Casaubon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meric_Casaubon \"Meric Casaubon\").\n\nSome popular English translations include:\n\n- [Francis Hutcheson](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Francis_Hutcheson_\\(philosopher\\) \"Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)\"), and James Moore (1742). *The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*. Indianapolis: [Liberty Fund](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Liberty_Fund \"Liberty Fund\"), 2008. Originally printed by [Foulis Press](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robert_Foulis_\\(printer\\) \"Robert Foulis (printer)\").\n- [Richard Graves](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Richard_Graves \"Richard Graves\") (1792). *Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, \\&c., by R. Graves*, 1792; new edition, Halifax, 1826.\n- [George Long](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Long_\\(scholar\\) \"George Long (scholar)\") (1862). *The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*; reprinted many times, including in Vol. 2 of the [Harvard Classics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harvard_Classics \"Harvard Classics\").\n- [Chrystal, George W](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Chrystal_\\(civil_servant\\) \"George Chrystal (civil servant)\"). (1902). *The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: A New Rendering Based on the Foulis Translation of 1742*, (Edinburgh: O. Schulze and Co.; London: S. C. Brown and Co., 1902). [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [9781977864116](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/9781977864116 \"Special:BookSources\/9781977864116\")\n- C. R. Haines (1916). *Marcus Aurelius*. [Loeb Classical Library](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Loeb_Classical_Library \"Loeb Classical Library\"). [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0674990641](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0674990641 \"Special:BookSources\/0674990641\")\n- [A. S. L. Farquharson](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/A._S._L._Farquharson \"A. S. L. Farquharson\") (1944). *Marcus Aurelius Meditations*. [Everyman's Library](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Everyman%27s_Library \"Everyman's Library\") reprint edition (1992) [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0679412719](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0679412719 \"Special:BookSources\/0679412719\")\n  . [Oxford World's Classics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Oxford_World%27s_Classics \"Oxford World's Classics\") revised edition (1998) [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0199540594](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0199540594 \"Special:BookSources\/0199540594\")\n- Classics Club (1945). *Meditations. Marcus Aurelius and his times*. Walter J. Black, Inc. New York.\n- [Maxwell Staniforth](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maxwell_Staniforth \"Maxwell Staniforth\") (1969). *Meditations*. Penguin. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0140441409](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0140441409 \"Special:BookSources\/0140441409\")\n- Gregory Hays (2002). *Meditations*. Random House. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0679642609](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0679642609 \"Special:BookSources\/0679642609\")\n  (181 pages)\n- C. Scot Hicks, David V. Hicks (2002). *The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations*. Simon & Schuster. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0743233832](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0743233832 \"Special:BookSources\/0743233832\")\n- [Martin Hammond](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Martin_Hammond \"Martin Hammond\") (2006). *Meditations*. Penguin Classics. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [0140449337](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/0140449337 \"Special:BookSources\/0140449337\")\n- [Jacob Needleman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jacob_Needleman \"Jacob Needleman\"), and John P. Piazza (2008) *The Essential Marcus Aurelius*. J. P. Tarcher. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [978-1585426171](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-1585426171 \"Special:BookSources\/978-1585426171\")\n  (111 pages)\n- Robin Hard, and Christopher Gill (2011). *Meditations with selected correspondence*. Oxford University Press [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [978-0199573202](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0199573202 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0199573202\")\n- [Robin Waterfield](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Robin_Waterfield \"Robin Waterfield\") (2021). *Meditations: The Annotated Edition*. Basic Books. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  [978-1-5416-7385-4](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-1-5416-7385-4 \"Special:BookSources\/978-1-5416-7385-4\")\n\n- [John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/John_Bourchier,_2nd_Baron_Berners \"John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners\")\n- *[Memento mori](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Memento_mori \"Memento mori\")*\n\n1. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-1)** Swain, Simon (1996). *Hellenism and Empire*. Oxford University Press. p. 29. \"Close imitation of [Attic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Attic_Greek \"Attic Greek\") was not required because [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") wrote in a philosophical context without thought of publication. [Galen](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Galen \"Galen\")'s many writings in what he calls 'the common dialect' are another excellent example of non-atticizing but highly educated Greek.\"\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-2)** [Iain King](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iain_King \"Iain King\") suggests the books may also have been written for mental stimulation, as Aurelius was removed from the cultural and intellectual life of Rome for the first time in his life. Source: [Thinker At War: Marcus Aurelius](http:\/\/www.military-history.org\/articles\/thinkers-at-war-marcus-aurelius.htm) published August 2014, accessed November 2014.\n3. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-3)** [*The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated from the Greek. By Jeremy Collier*](https:\/\/dn720006.ca.archive.org\/0\/items\/meditationsofmar00marc\/meditationsofmar00marc.pdf), London, 1887.\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-4)** Sellars, John. 23 October 2011. \"[Marcus Aurelius](http:\/\/www.iep.utm.edu\/marcus\/).\" *[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy \"Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy\")*.\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-5)** Roberts, John, ed. 23 October 2011. \"[Aurēlius, Marcus](https:\/\/www.oxfordreference.com\/view\/10.1093\/acref\/9780192801463.001.0001\/acref-9780192801463-e-290?rskey=jNKHnH&result=282).\" *The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World*.\n6. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-hadot_22_6-0)** [Hadot 1998](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFHadot1998), p. 22\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-7)**\n   Birley, Anthony (2012). *Marcus Aurelius: A Biography*. Routledge. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n   \n   [978-1134695690](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-1134695690 \"Special:BookSources\/978-1134695690\")\n   \n   .\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xv_8-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xv\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-hadot_24_9-0)** [Hadot 1998](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFHadot1998), p. 24\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvi_10-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xvi\n11. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvii_11-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvii_11-1) [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xvii\n12. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-2) [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xviii\n13. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-3) [***e***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-4) [Haines 1916](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFHaines1916), p. xv\n14. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xx_14-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xx_14-1) [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xx\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-15)**\n    Hays, Gregory (2002). *\"Introduction\" in Meditations: A New Translation*. The Modern Library. p. 51. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0679642602](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0679642602 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0679642602\")\n    \n    .\n16. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-3) [Haines 1916](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFHaines1916), p. xvi\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xix_17-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xix\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-18)**\n    Hall, Frederick William (1913). *A companion to classical texts*. Clarendon Press. p. 251.\n19. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxii_19-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xxii\n20. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-2) [***d***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-3) [***e***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-4) [***f***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-5) [Farquharson 1944](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xxvii\n21. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-21)**\n    Murray, Gilbert (2002) \\[1912\\]. *Five Stages of Greek Religion* (3rd ed.). Dover Publications. pp. 168–169\\. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0486425009](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0486425009 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0486425009\")\n    \n    .\n22. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-22)**\n    [Marcus Aurelius](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marcus_Aurelius \"Marcus Aurelius\") (1964). [*Meditations*](https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/meditations0000marc_m9z0). London: [Penguin Books](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Penguin_Books \"Penguin Books\"). pp. [2](https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/meditations0000marc_m9z0\/page\/n63)–27. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0140441406](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0140441406 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0140441406\")\n    \n    .\n23. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-Rees_23-0)**\n    Rees, D. A. 1992. \"Introduction.\" In *Meditations*, edited by A. S. L. Farquhrson (1944). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n    \n    [978-0679412717](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0679412717 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0679412717\")\n    \n    . p. xvii.\n24. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-24)** [Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Interviewed](https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/chinese-prime-minister-wen-jiabao-interviewed-89187), *Newsweek*\n25. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-25)**\n    [\"An American reader: Bill Clinton\"](http:\/\/latimesblogs.latimes.com\/jacketcopy\/2009\/07\/america-reads-bill-clinton.html). *[Los Angeles Times](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Los_Angeles_Times \"Los Angeles Times\")*. 2009-07-04.\n26. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-26)** [Marcus Aurelius, *De seipso, seu vita sua, libri 12*](https:\/\/www.digitale-sammlungen.de\/en\/view\/bsb10169588?page=1) ed. and trans. by Xylander. Zürich: Andreas Gessner, 1558.\n27. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECeporina201254_27-0)** [Ceporina 2012](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meditations#CITEREFCeporina2012), p. 54.\n\n- Ceporina, Matteo (2012), \"The Meditations\", in Marcel van Ackeren (ed.), *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius*, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 45–61\n- Farquharson, A. S. L. (1944), \"Introduction\", *The Meditations Of The Emperor Marcus Antoninus*, vol. 1, Oxford University Press\n- Hadot, Pierre (1998), *The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*, Harvard University Press, [ISBN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISBN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISBN (identifier)\")\n  \n  [978-0674461710](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:BookSources\/978-0674461710 \"Special:BookSources\/978-0674461710\")\n- Haines, C. R. (1916), \"Introduction\", *The communings with himself of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*, William Heinemann\n\n- Annas, Julia. 2004. \"Marcus Aurelius: Ethics and Its Background.\" *Rhizai: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science* 2:103–119.\n- Berryman, Sylvia Ann. 2010. *The Puppet and the Sage: Images of the Self in Marcus Aurelius* *Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy* 38: 187–209.\n- Dickson, Keith. 2009. \"Oneself as Others: Aurelius and Autobiography.\" *Arethusa* 42.1: 99–125.\n- Gill, Christopher. 2012. \"Marcus and Previous Stoic Literature.\" In *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.* Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 382–395. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.\n- Hadot, Pierre. 2001. *The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.* Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.\n- Kraye, Jill. 2012. \"Marcus Aurelius and Neostoicism in Early Modern Philosophy.\" In *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.* Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 515–531. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.\n- Rees, D. A. 2000. \"Joseph Bryennius and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.\" *Classical Quarterly* 52.2: 584–596.\n- Robertson, D. 2019. [*How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=xGBbDwAAQBAJ). New York: St. Martin's Press.\n- Rutherford, R. B. 1989. *The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: A Study.* Oxford: Oxford University Press.\n- Stephens, William O. 2012. [*Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed*](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=qxT-TeS-JOIC). London and New York: Bloomsbury (Continuum).\n- Wolf, Edita. 2016. \"Others as Matter of Indifference in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations.\" *Acta Universitatis Carolinae. Graecolatina Pragensia* 2:13–23.\n\n[![Wikisource logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg)\n\nEnglish [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\") has original text related to this article:\n\n[![Wikisource logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg)\n\nGreek [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\") has original text related to this article:\n\n- Sellars, John. [\"Marcus Aurelius\"](https:\/\/iep.utm.edu\/marcus). In Fieser, James; Dowden, Bradley (eds.). *[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy \"Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy\")*. [ISSN](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ISSN_\\(identifier\\) \"ISSN (identifier)\") [2161-0002](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/issn\/2161-0002). [OCLC](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/OCLC_\\(identifier\\) \"OCLC (identifier)\") [37741658](https:\/\/search.worldcat.org\/oclc\/37741658).\n\n- [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/20px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) [The Thoughts Of The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus](https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/The_Thoughts_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus \"s:The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus\"). translated by [George Long](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/George_Long_\\(scholar\\) \"George Long (scholar)\"), at *[Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\")*\n- *[Meditations](https:\/\/standardebooks.org\/ebooks\/marcus-aurelius\/meditations\/george-long)* at [Standard Ebooks](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Standard_Ebooks \"Standard Ebooks\")\n- [The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, by George Long](https:\/\/www.stoictherapy.com\/elibrary-meditations-long), 1862, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary\n- [*Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself: an English translation with introductory study on stoicism and the last of the Stoics*, by G.H. Rendall](https:\/\/www.stoictherapy.com\/elibrary-meditations-rendall), 1898, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary\n- [*The Meditations* by Marcus Aurelius](http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/ebooks\/2680) at *[Project Gutenberg](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Project_Gutenberg \"Project Gutenberg\")*, [gutenberg.org](http:\/\/www.gutenberg.org\/)\n- ![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/21\/Speaker_Icon.svg\/20px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png) [*The Meditations*](https:\/\/librivox.org\/search?title=The+Meditations&author=Aurelius&reader=&keywords=&genre_id=0&status=all&project_type=either&recorded_language=&sort_order=catalog_date&search_page=1&search_form=advanced) public domain audiobook at [LibriVox](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LibriVox \"LibriVox\")\n- [*Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, \\&c., by R. Graves](https:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=3uQIAAAAQAAJ), 1792, at *[Google Books](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Google_Books \"Google Books\")*\n- [Multiple editions of the *Meditations*](https:\/\/archive.org\/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Marcus%20Aurelius%22) at the *[Internet Archive](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Internet_Archive \"Internet Archive\")*","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Arts_and_Entertainment\":492,\"\/Arts_and_Entertainment\/Other\":282,\"\/Books_and_Literature\":216,\"\/Books_and_Literature\/Literary_Classics\":180,\"\/People_and_Society\":162,\"\/People_and_Society\/Social_Sciences\":114,\"\/People_and_Society\/Social_Sciences\/Psychology\":109}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":998,\"\/Article\/Wiki\":778}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":999}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":0,"attrs_original_publish_time":1375979135,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"3830","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"2815","body_ext_links_number":89,"body_int_links_number":391,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":0,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":73,"download_ttfb_msec":42,"download_size":40459}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

11 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.4 months ago (distributed domain, exempt)
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property

Value

URL

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations

Last Crawled

2026-04-13 05:10:25 (11 days ago)

First Indexed

2013-08-08 16:25:35 (12 years ago)

HTTP Status Code

200

Content

Meta Title

Meditations - Wikipedia

Meta Description

null

Meta Canonical

null

Boilerpipe Text

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Meditations Editio princeps by Wilhelm Xylander in 1558 Author Marcus Aurelius Original title Unknown, probably untitled Language Koine Greek Publication place Roman Empire Meditations ( Koine Greek : Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν , romanized: Ta eis heauton , lit. ' 'Things Unto Himself' ' ) is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius , Roman Emperor from 161–180 CE, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy . Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine Greek [ 1 ] as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. [ 2 ] It is possible that large portions of the work were written at Sirmium , where he spent much time planning military campaigns in AD 170–180. A portion of his work was written while he was on campaign, because internal notes reveal that the first book was "written in the country of the Quadi , at the Granova" [ 3 ] (modern-day Hron River in Slovakia ) and the second book was written at Carnuntum . It is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published. 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. Structure and themes [ edit ] The Meditations is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Aurelius' life. The passages in each book are not necessarily in chronological order, seeing as they were written as Aurelius' own personal musings. The style of writing that permeates the text is one that is simplified, straightforward, and perhaps reflecting Aurelius' Stoic perspective. A central theme to Meditations is the importance of analyzing one's judgment of self and others and developing a cosmic perspective: [ 4 ] 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. Aurelius advocates finding one's place in the universe and sees that everything came from nature, and so everything shall return to it in due time. Another strong theme is of maintaining focus and to be without distraction all the while maintaining strong ethical principles such as "Being a good man." [ 5 ] His Stoic ideas often involve avoiding indulgence in sensory affections, a skill which 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. An internal orderly and rational nature, or logos , permeates and guides all existence. Rationality and clear-mindedness allow one to live in harmony with the logos . This allows one to rise above faulty perceptions of "good" and "bad"—things out of one's control like fame and wealth are (unlike things in one's control) irrelevant and neither good nor bad. The early history of the Meditations is unknown, and its earliest clear mention by another writer dates from the early 10th century. [ 6 ] The historian Herodian , writing in the mid-3rd century, makes mention of Marcus' literary legacy, saying "He was concerned with all aspects of excellence, and in his love of ancient literature he was second to no man, Roman or Greek; this is evident from all his sayings and writings which have come down to us", a passage which may refer to the Meditations . The Historia Augusta ' s biography of Avidius Cassius , thought to have been written in the 4th century, records that before Marcus set out on the Marcomannic Wars , he was asked to publish his Precepts of Philosophy in case something should befall him, but he instead "for three days discussed the books of his Exhortations one after the other". [ 7 ] A doubtful mention is made by the orator Themistius in about 364 C.E. In an address to the emperor Valens , On Brotherly Love , he says: "You do not need the exhortations ( Greek : παραγγέλματα ) of Marcus." [ 8 ] Another possible reference, in the Greek Anthology , is an epigram dedicated to "the Book of Marcus," which has been attributed to the 7th century Byzantine scholar Theophylact Simocatta . [ 9 ] The first direct mention of the work comes from Arethas of Caesarea (c. 860–935), a bishop who was a great collector of manuscripts. [ 10 ] At some date before 907 he sent a volume of the Meditations to Demetrius, Archbishop of Heracleia [ it ] , with a letter saying: "I have had for some time an old copy of the Emperor Marcus' most profitable book, so old indeed that it is altogether falling to pieces.… This I have had copied and am able to hand down to posterity in its new dress." [ 11 ] Arethas also mentions the work in marginal notes ( scholia ) to books by Lucian and Dio Chrysostom where he refers to passages in the "Treatise to Himself" ( Greek : τὰ εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἠθικά ), and it was this title which the book bore in the manuscript from which the first printed edition was made in the 16th century. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] Arethas' own copy has now vanished, but it is thought to be the likely ancestor of the surviving manuscripts. [ 11 ] The next mention of the Meditations is in the Suda lexicon published in the late 10th century. [ 12 ] The Suda calls the work "a directing ( Greek : ἀγωγή ) of his own life by Marcus the Emperor in twelve books," [ 13 ] which is the first mention of a division of the work into twelve books. [ 12 ] The Suda makes use of some thirty quotations taken from books I, III, IV, V, IX, and XI. [ 13 ] Around 1150, John Tzetzes , a grammarian of Constantinople, quotes passages from Books IV and V attributing them to Marcus. [ 13 ] About 200 years later Nicephorus Callistus (c. 1295–1360) in his Ecclesiastical History writes that "Marcus Antoninus composed a book for the education of his son Marcus [i.e. Commodus ], full of all worldly ( Greek : κοσμικῆς ) experience and instruction." [ 13 ] [ 14 ] The Meditations is thereafter quoted in many Greek compilations from the 14th to 16th centuries. [ 14 ] This, specifically after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, as it was among the Greek texts reintroduced by fleeing scholars to European intellectual circles. [ 15 ] The present-day text is based almost entirely upon two manuscripts. One is the Codex Palatinus (P), also known as the Codex Toxitanus (T), that was first published in 1558–59 but is now lost. [ 16 ] The other manuscript is the Codex Vaticanus 1950 (A) in the Vatican Library , [ 16 ] which passed there from the collection of Stefano Gradi in 1683. [ 17 ] This is a 14th-century manuscript which survives in a very corrupt state, and about forty-two lines have dropped out by accidental omissions. [ 16 ] [ 18 ] Other manuscripts are of little independent value for reconstructing the text. [ 19 ] The main ones are the Codex Darmstadtinus 2773 (D) with 112 extracts from books I–IX, and the Codex Parisinus 319 (C) with 29 extracts from Books I–IV. [ 16 ] "Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered" The modern history of the Meditations dates from the issue of the first printed edition ( editio princeps ) by Wilhelm Xylander in 1558 or 1559. [ 20 ] It was published at the instigation of Conrad Gesner and printed by his cousin Andreas Gesner at Zürich . [ 20 ] The book was bound with a work by Marinus ( Proclus vel De Felicitate , also a first edition). [ 20 ] To the Meditations was added a Latin translation by Xylander who also included brief notes. [ 20 ] Conrad Gesner stated in his dedicatory letter that he "received the books of Marcus from the gifted poet Michael Toxites from the library of Otto Heinrich, Prince Palatine ", i.e. from the collection at Heidelberg University . [ 20 ] The importance of this edition of the Meditations is that the manuscript from which it was printed is now lost, so that it is one of the two principal sources of all modern texts. [ 20 ] Gilbert Murray compares the work to Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Confessions and St. Augustine's Confessions . [ 21 ] In the Introduction to his 1964 translation of Meditations , the Anglican priest Maxwell Staniforth discussed the profound impact of Stoicism on Christianity . [ 22 ] Rees (1992) calls the Meditations "unendingly moving and inspiring," but does not offer them up as works of original philosophy, though he does find an element of Marcus' Stoic philosophy in the philosophical system of Immanuel Kant . [ 23 ] Wen Jiabao , the former Prime Minister of China, has said that he has read the Meditations a hundred times. He also stated that he was "very deeply impressed" by the work. [ 24 ] It has been described as "a favorite" of former United States President Bill Clinton . [ 25 ] The editio princeps (first print edition) of the original Greek was published by Conrad Gessner and his cousin Andreas in 1559. Both it and the accompanying Latin translation were produced by Wilhelm Xylander . His source was a manuscript from Heidelberg University , provided by Michael Toxites . By 1568, when Xylander completed his second edition, he no longer had access to the source and it has been lost ever since. [ 26 ] [ 27 ] The first English translation was published in 1634 by Meric Casaubon . Some popular English translations include: Francis Hutcheson , and James Moore (1742). The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus . Indianapolis: Liberty Fund , 2008. Originally printed by Foulis Press . Richard Graves (1792). Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, &c., by R. Graves , 1792; new edition, Halifax, 1826. George Long (1862). The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius ; reprinted many times, including in Vol. 2 of the Harvard Classics . Chrystal, George W . (1902). The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: A New Rendering Based on the Foulis Translation of 1742 , (Edinburgh: O. Schulze and Co.; London: S. C. Brown and Co., 1902). ISBN 9781977864116 C. R. Haines (1916). Marcus Aurelius . Loeb Classical Library . ISBN 0674990641 A. S. L. Farquharson (1944). Marcus Aurelius Meditations . Everyman's Library reprint edition (1992) ISBN 0679412719 . Oxford World's Classics revised edition (1998) ISBN 0199540594 Classics Club (1945). Meditations. Marcus Aurelius and his times . Walter J. Black, Inc. New York. Maxwell Staniforth (1969). Meditations . Penguin. ISBN 0140441409 Gregory Hays (2002). Meditations . Random House. ISBN 0679642609 (181 pages) C. Scot Hicks, David V. Hicks (2002). The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations . Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0743233832 Martin Hammond (2006). Meditations . Penguin Classics. ISBN 0140449337 Jacob Needleman , and John P. Piazza (2008) The Essential Marcus Aurelius . J. P. Tarcher. ISBN 978-1585426171 (111 pages) Robin Hard, and Christopher Gill (2011). Meditations with selected correspondence . Oxford University Press ISBN 978-0199573202 Robin Waterfield (2021). Meditations: The Annotated Edition . Basic Books. ISBN 978-1-5416-7385-4 John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners Memento mori ^ Swain, Simon (1996). Hellenism and Empire . Oxford University Press. p. 29. "Close imitation of Attic was not required because Marcus Aurelius wrote in a philosophical context without thought of publication. Galen 's many writings in what he calls 'the common dialect' are another excellent example of non-atticizing but highly educated Greek." ^ Iain King suggests the books may also have been written for mental stimulation, as Aurelius was removed from the cultural and intellectual life of Rome for the first time in his life. Source: Thinker At War: Marcus Aurelius published August 2014, accessed November 2014. ^ The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated from the Greek. By Jeremy Collier , London, 1887. ^ Sellars, John. 23 October 2011. " Marcus Aurelius ." Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy . ^ Roberts, John, ed. 23 October 2011. " Aurēlius, Marcus ." The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World . ^ Hadot 1998 , p. 22 ^ Birley, Anthony (2012). Marcus Aurelius: A Biography . Routledge. ISBN 978-1134695690 . ^ Farquharson 1944 , p. xv ^ Hadot 1998 , p. 24 ^ Farquharson 1944 , p. xvi ^ a b Farquharson 1944 , p. xvii ^ a b c Farquharson 1944 , p. xviii ^ a b c d e Haines 1916 , p. xv ^ a b Farquharson 1944 , p. xx ^ Hays, Gregory (2002). "Introduction" in Meditations: A New Translation . The Modern Library. p. 51. ISBN 978-0679642602 . ^ a b c d Haines 1916 , p. xvi ^ Farquharson 1944 , p. xix ^ Hall, Frederick William (1913). A companion to classical texts . Clarendon Press. p. 251. ^ Farquharson 1944 , p. xxii ^ a b c d e f Farquharson 1944 , p. xxvii ^ Murray, Gilbert (2002) [1912]. Five Stages of Greek Religion (3rd ed.). Dover Publications. pp. 168– 169. ISBN 978-0486425009 . ^ Marcus Aurelius (1964). Meditations . London: Penguin Books . pp. 2 –27. ISBN 978-0140441406 . ^ Rees, D. A. 1992. "Introduction." In Meditations , edited by A. S. L. Farquhrson (1944). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0679412717 . p. xvii. ^ Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Interviewed , Newsweek ^ "An American reader: Bill Clinton" . Los Angeles Times . 2009-07-04. ^ Marcus Aurelius, De seipso, seu vita sua, libri 12 ed. and trans. by Xylander. Zürich: Andreas Gessner, 1558. ^ Ceporina 2012 , p. 54. Ceporina, Matteo (2012), "The Meditations", in Marcel van Ackeren (ed.), A Companion to Marcus Aurelius , Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 45– 61 Farquharson, A. S. L. (1944), "Introduction", The Meditations Of The Emperor Marcus Antoninus , vol. 1, Oxford University Press Hadot, Pierre (1998), The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius , Harvard University Press, ISBN 978-0674461710 Haines, C. R. (1916), "Introduction", The communings with himself of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus , William Heinemann Annas, Julia. 2004. "Marcus Aurelius: Ethics and Its Background." Rhizai: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science 2:103–119. Berryman, Sylvia Ann. 2010. The Puppet and the Sage: Images of the Self in Marcus Aurelius Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy 38: 187–209. Dickson, Keith. 2009. "Oneself as Others: Aurelius and Autobiography." Arethusa 42.1: 99–125. Gill, Christopher. 2012. "Marcus and Previous Stoic Literature." In A Companion to Marcus Aurelius. Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 382–395. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Hadot, Pierre. 2001. The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Kraye, Jill. 2012. "Marcus Aurelius and Neostoicism in Early Modern Philosophy." In A Companion to Marcus Aurelius. Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 515–531. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. Rees, D. A. 2000. "Joseph Bryennius and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations." Classical Quarterly 52.2: 584–596. Robertson, D. 2019. How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius . New York: St. Martin's Press. Rutherford, R. B. 1989. The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: A Study. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Stephens, William O. 2012. Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed . London and New York: Bloomsbury (Continuum). Wolf, Edita. 2016. "Others as Matter of Indifference in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations." Acta Universitatis Carolinae. Graecolatina Pragensia 2:13–23. English Wikisource has original text related to this article: Greek Wikisource has original text related to this article: Sellars, John. "Marcus Aurelius" . In Fieser, James; Dowden, Bradley (eds.). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy . ISSN 2161-0002 . OCLC 37741658 . The Thoughts Of The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus . translated by George Long , at Wikisource Meditations at Standard Ebooks The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, by George Long , 1862, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself: an English translation with introductory study on stoicism and the last of the Stoics , by G.H. Rendall , 1898, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary The Meditations by Marcus Aurelius at Project Gutenberg , gutenberg.org The Meditations public domain audiobook at LibriVox Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus , a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, &c., by R. Graves , 1792, at Google Books Multiple editions of the Meditations at the Internet Archive

Markdown

[Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#bodyContent) Main menu Main menu move to sidebar hide Navigation - [Main page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page "Visit the main page [z]") - [Contents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents "Guides to browsing Wikipedia") - [Current events](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events "Articles related to current events") - [Random article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random "Visit a randomly selected article [x]") - [About Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About "Learn about Wikipedia and how it works") - [Contact us](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us "How to contact Wikipedia") Contribute - [Help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents "Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia") - [Learn to edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction "Learn how to edit Wikipedia") - [Community portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal "The hub for editors") - [Recent changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RecentChanges "A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]") - [Upload file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard "Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia") - [Special pages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:SpecialPages "A list of all special pages [q]") [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) [Search](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search "Search Wikipedia [f]") Appearance - [Donate](https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en) - [Create account](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Meditations "You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory") - [Log in](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Meditations "You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]") Personal tools - [Donate](https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en) - [Create account](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Meditations "You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory") - [Log in](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Meditations "You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]") ## Contents move to sidebar hide - [(Top)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations) - [1 Composition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Composition) - [2 Structure and themes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Structure_and_themes) - [3 Reception](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Reception) Toggle Reception subsection - [3\.1 Ancient](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Ancient) - [3\.2 Medieval](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Medieval) - [3\.3 Modern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Modern) - [4 Editions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Editions) - [5 See also](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#See_also) - [6 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#References) Toggle References subsection - [6\.1 Sources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Sources) - [7 Further reading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Further_reading) - [8 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#External_links) Toggle External links subsection - [8\.1 Studies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Studies) - [8\.2 Translations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#Translations) Toggle the table of contents # *Meditations* 40 languages - [Afrikaans](https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditasies "Meditasies – Afrikaans") - [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA "التأملات – Arabic") - [Български](https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D1%8A%D0%BC_%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B5_%D1%81%D0%B8 "Към себе си – Bulgarian") - [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditacions "Meditacions – Catalan") - [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovory_k_sob%C4%9B "Hovory k sobě – Czech") - [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selbstbetrachtungen "Selbstbetrachtungen – German") - [Ελληνικά](https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A4%CE%B1_%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82_%CE%B5%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%84%CF%8C%CE%BD "Τα εις εαυτόν – Greek") - [Esperanto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensoj_al_mi_mem "Pensoj al mi mem – Esperanto") - [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditaciones "Meditaciones – Spanish") - [Eesti](https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iseendale "Iseendale – Estonian") - [Euskara](https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gogoetak "Gogoetak – Basque") - [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA "تأملات – Persian") - [Suomi](https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itselleni "Itselleni – Finnish") - [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pens%C3%A9es_pour_moi-m%C3%AAme "Pensées pour moi-même – French") - [Frysk](https://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_eis_heauton "Ta eis heauton – Western Frisian") - [עברית](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A8%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA "רעיונות – Hebrew") - [Kreyòl ayisyen](https://ht.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations "Meditations – Haitian Creole") - [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditasi_\(buku\) "Meditasi (buku) – Indonesian") - [Íslenska](https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huglei%C3%B0ingar_\(Mark%C3%BAs_%C3%81rel%C3%ADus\) "Hugleiðingar (Markús Árelíus) – Icelandic") - [Italiano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloqui_con_s%C3%A9_stesso "Colloqui con sé stesso – Italian") - [日本語](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%87%AA%E7%9C%81%E9%8C%B2 "自省録 – Japanese") - [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%AA%85%EC%83%81%EB%A1%9D "명상록 – Korean") - [Latina](https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditationes_\(Marcus_Aurelius\) "Meditationes (Marcus Aurelius) – Latin") - [Lietuvių](https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sau_pa%C4%8Diam "Sau pačiam – Lithuanian") - [Македонски](https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%9A%D0%B0_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BE%D1%82_%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B5 "Разгледувања за самиот себе – Macedonian") - [مازِرونی](https://mzn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%B4%D9%86_\(%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8\) "مدیتیشن (کتاب) – Mazanderani") - [Nederlands](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_eis_heauton "Ta eis heauton – Dutch") - [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rozmy%C5%9Blania_\(Marek_Aureliusz\) "Rozmyślania (Marek Aureliusz) – Polish") - [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medita%C3%A7%C3%B5es "Meditações – Portuguese") - [Română](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medita%C8%9Bii "Meditații – Romanian") - [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A_%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%BC%D1%83_%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B5 "К самому себе – Russian") - [Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски](https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditacije "Meditacije – Serbo-Croatian") - [Shqip](https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditime "Meditime – Albanian") - [Српски / srpski](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B5_\(%D0%BA%D1%9A%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0\) "Медитације (књига) – Serbian") - [தமிழ்](https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B8%E0%AF%8D "மெடிடேசன்ஸ் – Tamil") - [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendime_D%C3%BC%C5%9F%C3%BCnceler "Kendime Düşünceler – Turkish") - [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B8._%D0%9D%D0%B0%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%86%D1%96_%D0%B7_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%BE%D1%8E "Розмисли. Наодинці з собою – Ukrainian") - [Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча](https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/O%CA%BBylar "Oʻylar – Uzbek") - [Tiếng Việt](https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suy_t%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Fng_\(Marcus_Aurelius\) "Suy tưởng (Marcus Aurelius) – Vietnamese") - [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B2%89%E6%80%9D%E5%BD%95 "沉思录 – Chinese") [Edit links](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q1152283#sitelinks-wikipedia "Edit interlanguage links") - [Article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations "View the content page [c]") - [Talk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Meditations "Discuss improvements to the content page [t]") English - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations) - [Edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit "Edit this page [e]") - [View history](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=history "Past revisions of this page [h]") Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations) - [Edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit "Edit this page [e]") - [View history](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=history) General - [What links here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Meditations "List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]") - [Related changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Meditations "Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]") - [Upload file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard "Upload files [u]") - [Permanent link](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&oldid=1345553465 "Permanent link to this revision of this page") - [Page information](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=info "More information about this page") - [Cite this page](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Meditations&id=1345553465&wpFormIdentifier=titleform "Information on how to cite this page") - [Get shortened URL](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMeditations) Print/export - [Download as PDF](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Meditations&action=show-download-screen "Download this page as a PDF file") - [Printable version](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&printable=yes "Printable version of this page [p]") In other projects - [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Meditations_by_Marcus_Aurelius) - [Wikisource](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Meditations) - [Wikidata item](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q1152283 "Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]") Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Literary work by Marcus Aurelius This article is about the writings by Marcus Aurelius. For other uses, see [Meditation (disambiguation)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation_\(disambiguation\) "Meditation (disambiguation)"). | | | |---|---| | [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso%2C_seu_vita_sua_%28Xylander%2C_1558%29.jpg/250px-Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso%2C_seu_vita_sua_%28Xylander%2C_1558%29.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso,_seu_vita_sua_\(Xylander,_1558\).jpg)[Editio princeps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editio_princeps "Editio princeps") by [Wilhelm Xylander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Xylander "Wilhelm Xylander") in 1558 | | | Author | [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") | | Original title | *Unknown, probably untitled* | | Language | [Koine Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine_Greek "Koine Greek") | | Publication place | [Roman Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire "Roman Empire") | ***Meditations*** ([Koine Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine_Greek_language "Koine Greek language"): Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, romanized:*Ta eis heauton*, [lit.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literal_translation "Literal translation")''Things Unto Himself'') is a series of personal writings by [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius"), [Roman Emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Emperor "Roman Emperor") from 161–180 CE, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on [Stoic philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoic_philosophy "Stoic philosophy"). ## Composition \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Composition")\] Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the *Meditations* in [Koine Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine_Greek "Koine Greek")[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-1) as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-2) It is possible that large portions of the work were written at [Sirmium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirmium "Sirmium"), where he spent much time planning military campaigns in AD 170–180. A portion of his work was written while he was on campaign, because internal notes reveal that the first book was "written in the country of the [Quadi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadi "Quadi"), at the Granova"[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-3) (modern-day [Hron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hron "Hron") River in [Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia "Slovakia")) and the second book was written at [Carnuntum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnuntum "Carnuntum"). It is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published. 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. ## Structure and themes \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Structure and themes")\] The *Meditations* is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Aurelius' life. The passages in each book are not necessarily in chronological order, seeing as they were written as Aurelius' own personal musings. The style of writing that permeates the text is one that is simplified, straightforward, and perhaps reflecting Aurelius' [Stoic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism "Stoicism") perspective. A central theme to *Meditations* is the importance of analyzing one's judgment of self and others and developing a cosmic perspective:[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-4) > 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. Aurelius advocates finding one's place in the universe and sees that everything came from nature, and so everything shall return to it in due time. Another strong theme is of maintaining focus and to be without distraction all the while maintaining strong ethical principles such as "Being a good man."[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-5) His Stoic ideas often involve avoiding indulgence in sensory affections, a skill which 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. An internal orderly and rational nature, or *[logos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logos "Logos"),* permeates and guides all existence. [Rationality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality "Rationality") and [clear-mindedness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equanimity "Equanimity") allow one to live in harmony with the *logos*. This allows one to rise above faulty perceptions of "good" and "bad"—things out of one's control like fame and wealth are (unlike things in one's control) irrelevant and neither good nor bad. ## Reception \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Reception")\] ### Ancient \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: Ancient")\] | | | |---|---| | | | | [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Marcus_Aurelius_Glyptothek_M%C3%BCnchen_%283x4_cropped%29.jpg/120px-Marcus_Aurelius_Glyptothek_M%C3%BCnchen_%283x4_cropped%29.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marcus_Aurelius_Glyptothek_M%C3%BCnchen_\(3x4_cropped\).jpg) | This article is part of a series about[Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") | | Personal [Early life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Early life of Marcus Aurelius") *[Meditations]()* [Philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius") Roman emperor [Reign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reign_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Reign of Marcus Aurelius") [Parthian War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman%E2%80%93Parthian_War_of_161%E2%80%93166 "Roman–Parthian War of 161–166") [Marcomannic Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcomannic_Wars "Marcomannic Wars") [Antonine Plague](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonine_Plague "Antonine Plague") Legacy [Temple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Temple of Marcus Aurelius") [Column](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Column_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Column of Marcus Aurelius") [Equestrian Statue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_Statue_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius") | | | [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Marcus_Aurelius "Template:Marcus Aurelius") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Marcus_Aurelius "Template talk:Marcus Aurelius") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Marcus_Aurelius "Special:EditPage/Template:Marcus Aurelius") | | The early history of the *Meditations* is unknown, and its earliest clear mention by another writer dates from the early 10th century.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-hadot_22-6) The historian [Herodian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodian "Herodian"), writing in the mid-3rd century, makes mention of Marcus' literary legacy, saying "He was concerned with all aspects of excellence, and in his love of ancient literature he was second to no man, Roman or Greek; this is evident from all his sayings and writings which have come down to us", a passage which may refer to the *Meditations*. The *[Historia Augusta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_Augusta "Historia Augusta")'*s biography of [Avidius Cassius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avidius_Cassius "Avidius Cassius"), thought to have been written in the 4th century, records that before Marcus set out on the [Marcomannic Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcomannic_Wars "Marcomannic Wars"), he was asked to publish his *Precepts of Philosophy* in case something should befall him, but he instead "for three days discussed the books of his *Exhortations* one after the other".[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-7) A doubtful mention is made by the orator [Themistius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themistius "Themistius") in about 364 C.E. In an address to the emperor [Valens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valens "Valens"), *On Brotherly Love*, he says: "You do not need the exhortations ([Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language"): παραγγέλματα) of Marcus."[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xv-8) Another possible reference, in the [Greek Anthology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Anthology "Greek Anthology"), is an epigram dedicated to "the Book of Marcus," which has been attributed to the 7th century [Byzantine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empire "Byzantine Empire") scholar [Theophylact Simocatta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylact_Simocatta "Theophylact Simocatta").[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-hadot_24-9) ### Medieval \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Medieval")\] The first direct mention of the work comes from [Arethas of Caesarea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arethas_of_Caesarea "Arethas of Caesarea") (c. 860–935), a bishop who was a great collector of manuscripts.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvi-10) At some date before 907 he sent a volume of the *Meditations* to Demetrius, [Archbishop of Heracleia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archdiocese_of_Heraclea_in_Europe&action=edit&redlink=1 "Archdiocese of Heraclea in Europe (page does not exist)") \[[it](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcidiocesi_di_Eraclea_di_Europa "it:Arcidiocesi di Eraclea di Europa")\], with a letter saying: "I have had for some time an old copy of the Emperor Marcus' most profitable book, so old indeed that it is altogether falling to pieces.… This I have had copied and am able to hand down to posterity in its new dress."[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvii-11) Arethas also mentions the work in marginal notes (*[scholia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholia "Scholia")*) to books by [Lucian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucian "Lucian") and [Dio Chrysostom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dio_Chrysostom "Dio Chrysostom") where he refers to passages in the "Treatise to Himself" ([Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language"): τὰ εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἠθικά), and it was this title which the book bore in the manuscript from which the first printed edition was made in the 16th century.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) Arethas' own copy has now vanished, but it is thought to be the likely ancestor of the surviving manuscripts.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvii-11) The next mention of the *Meditations* is in the *[Suda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suda "Suda")* lexicon published in the late 10th century.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12) The *Suda* calls the work "a directing ([Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language"): ἀγωγή) of his own life by Marcus the Emperor in twelve books,"[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) which is the first mention of a division of the work into twelve books.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12) The *Suda* makes use of some thirty quotations taken from books I, III, IV, V, IX, and XI.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) Around 1150, [John Tzetzes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tzetzes "John Tzetzes"), a grammarian of Constantinople, quotes passages from Books IV and V attributing them to Marcus.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) About 200 years later [Nicephorus Callistus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicephorus_Callistus "Nicephorus Callistus") (c. 1295–1360) in his *Ecclesiastical History* writes that "Marcus Antoninus composed a book for the education of his son Marcus \[i.e. [Commodus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodus "Commodus")\], full of all worldly ([Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language"): κοσμικῆς) experience and instruction."[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13)[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xx-14) The *Meditations* is thereafter quoted in many Greek compilations from the 14th to 16th centuries.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xx-14) This, specifically after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, as it was among the Greek texts reintroduced by fleeing scholars to European intellectual circles.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-15) The present-day text is based almost entirely upon two manuscripts. One is the *Codex Palatinus* (P), also known as the *Codex Toxitanus* (T), that was first published in 1558–59 but is now lost.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) The other manuscript is the *Codex Vaticanus 1950* (A) in the [Vatican Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_Library "Vatican Library"),[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) which passed there from the collection of [Stefano Gradi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefano_Gradi "Stefano Gradi") in 1683.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xix-17) This is a 14th-century manuscript which survives in a very corrupt state, and about forty-two lines have dropped out by accidental omissions.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16)[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-18) Other manuscripts are of little independent value for reconstructing the text.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxii-19) The main ones are the *Codex Darmstadtinus 2773* (D) with 112 extracts from books I–IX, and the *Codex Parisinus 319* (C) with 29 extracts from Books I–IV.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) ### Modern \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: Modern")\] [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Library_Walk_35.JPG/250px-Library_Walk_35.JPG)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Library_Walk_35.JPG) "Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered" The modern history of the *Meditations* dates from the issue of the first printed edition (*[editio princeps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editio_princeps "Editio princeps")*) by [Wilhelm Xylander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Xylander "Wilhelm Xylander") in 1558 or 1559.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) It was published at the instigation of [Conrad Gesner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Gesner "Conrad Gesner") and printed by his cousin Andreas Gesner at [Zürich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z%C3%BCrich "Zürich").[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) The book was bound with a work by [Marinus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinus_of_Neapolis "Marinus of Neapolis") (*Proclus vel De Felicitate*, also a first edition).[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) To the *Meditations* was added a Latin translation by Xylander who also included brief notes.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) Conrad Gesner stated in his dedicatory letter that he "received the books of Marcus from the gifted poet [Michael Toxites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Toxites "Michael Toxites") from the library of [Otto Heinrich, Prince Palatine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Henry,_Elector_Palatine "Otto Henry, Elector Palatine")", i.e. from the collection at [Heidelberg University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_University "Heidelberg University").[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) The importance of this edition of the *Meditations* is that the manuscript from which it was printed is now lost, so that it is one of the two principal sources of all modern texts.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) [Gilbert Murray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Murray "Gilbert Murray") compares the work to [Jean-Jacques Rousseau's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau "Jean-Jacques Rousseau") *[Confessions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_\(Rousseau\) "Confessions (Rousseau)")* and [St. Augustine's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo "Augustine of Hippo") *[Confessions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_\(Augustine\) "Confessions (Augustine)")*.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-21) In the Introduction to his 1964 translation of *Meditations*, the Anglican priest [Maxwell Staniforth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Staniforth "Maxwell Staniforth") discussed the profound impact of [Stoicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism "Stoicism") on [Christianity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity "Christianity").[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-22) Rees (1992) calls the *Meditations* "unendingly moving and inspiring," but does not offer them up as works of original philosophy, though he does find an element of Marcus' Stoic philosophy in the philosophical system of [Immanuel Kant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Kant "Immanuel Kant").[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-Rees-23) [Wen Jiabao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wen_Jiabao "Wen Jiabao"), the former Prime Minister of China, has said that he has read the *Meditations* a hundred times. He also stated that he was "very deeply impressed" by the work.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-24) It has been described as "a favorite" of former United States President [Bill Clinton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton "Bill Clinton").[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-25) ## Editions \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Editions")\] The *[editio princeps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editio_princeps "Editio princeps")* (first print edition) of the original Greek was published by [Conrad Gessner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Gessner "Conrad Gessner") and his cousin Andreas in 1559. Both it and the accompanying Latin translation were produced by [Wilhelm Xylander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Xylander "Wilhelm Xylander"). His source was a manuscript from [Heidelberg University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_University "Heidelberg University"), provided by [Michael Toxites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Toxites "Michael Toxites"). By 1568, when Xylander completed his second edition, he no longer had access to the source and it has been lost ever since.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-26)[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-FOOTNOTECeporina201254-27) The first English translation was published in 1634 by [Meric Casaubon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meric_Casaubon "Meric Casaubon"). Some popular English translations include: - [Francis Hutcheson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Hutcheson_\(philosopher\) "Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)"), and James Moore (1742). *The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*. Indianapolis: [Liberty Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Fund "Liberty Fund"), 2008. Originally printed by [Foulis Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Foulis_\(printer\) "Robert Foulis (printer)"). - [Richard Graves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Graves "Richard Graves") (1792). *Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, \&c., by R. Graves*, 1792; new edition, Halifax, 1826. - [George Long](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Long_\(scholar\) "George Long (scholar)") (1862). *The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*; reprinted many times, including in Vol. 2 of the [Harvard Classics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Classics "Harvard Classics"). - [Chrystal, George W](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Chrystal_\(civil_servant\) "George Chrystal (civil servant)"). (1902). *The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: A New Rendering Based on the Foulis Translation of 1742*, (Edinburgh: O. Schulze and Co.; London: S. C. Brown and Co., 1902). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [9781977864116](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781977864116 "Special:BookSources/9781977864116") - C. R. Haines (1916). *Marcus Aurelius*. [Loeb Classical Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loeb_Classical_Library "Loeb Classical Library"). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0674990641](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0674990641 "Special:BookSources/0674990641") - [A. S. L. Farquharson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._S._L._Farquharson "A. S. L. Farquharson") (1944). *Marcus Aurelius Meditations*. [Everyman's Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman%27s_Library "Everyman's Library") reprint edition (1992) [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0679412719](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0679412719 "Special:BookSources/0679412719") . [Oxford World's Classics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_World%27s_Classics "Oxford World's Classics") revised edition (1998) [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0199540594](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0199540594 "Special:BookSources/0199540594") - Classics Club (1945). *Meditations. Marcus Aurelius and his times*. Walter J. Black, Inc. New York. - [Maxwell Staniforth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Staniforth "Maxwell Staniforth") (1969). *Meditations*. Penguin. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0140441409](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0140441409 "Special:BookSources/0140441409") - Gregory Hays (2002). *Meditations*. Random House. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0679642609](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0679642609 "Special:BookSources/0679642609") (181 pages) - C. Scot Hicks, David V. Hicks (2002). *The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations*. Simon & Schuster. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0743233832](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0743233832 "Special:BookSources/0743233832") - [Martin Hammond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Hammond "Martin Hammond") (2006). *Meditations*. Penguin Classics. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0140449337](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0140449337 "Special:BookSources/0140449337") - [Jacob Needleman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Needleman "Jacob Needleman"), and John P. Piazza (2008) *The Essential Marcus Aurelius*. J. P. Tarcher. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1585426171](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1585426171 "Special:BookSources/978-1585426171") (111 pages) - Robin Hard, and Christopher Gill (2011). *Meditations with selected correspondence*. Oxford University Press [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0199573202](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0199573202 "Special:BookSources/978-0199573202") - [Robin Waterfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Waterfield "Robin Waterfield") (2021). *Meditations: The Annotated Edition*. Basic Books. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1-5416-7385-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-5416-7385-4 "Special:BookSources/978-1-5416-7385-4") ## See also \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: See also")\] - ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/SPQRomani.svg/40px-SPQRomani.svg.png)[Ancient Rome portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Ancient_Rome "Portal:Ancient Rome") - ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Socrates.png/20px-Socrates.png)[Philosophy portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Philosophy "Portal:Philosophy") - [John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bourchier,_2nd_Baron_Berners "John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners") - *[Memento mori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori "Memento mori")* ## References \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: References")\] 1. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-1)** Swain, Simon (1996). *Hellenism and Empire*. Oxford University Press. p. 29. "Close imitation of [Attic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attic_Greek "Attic Greek") was not required because [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") wrote in a philosophical context without thought of publication. [Galen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galen "Galen")'s many writings in what he calls 'the common dialect' are another excellent example of non-atticizing but highly educated Greek." 2. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-2)** [Iain King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_King "Iain King") suggests the books may also have been written for mental stimulation, as Aurelius was removed from the cultural and intellectual life of Rome for the first time in his life. Source: [Thinker At War: Marcus Aurelius](http://www.military-history.org/articles/thinkers-at-war-marcus-aurelius.htm) published August 2014, accessed November 2014. 3. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-3)** [*The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated from the Greek. By Jeremy Collier*](https://dn720006.ca.archive.org/0/items/meditationsofmar00marc/meditationsofmar00marc.pdf), London, 1887. 4. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-4)** Sellars, John. 23 October 2011. "[Marcus Aurelius](http://www.iep.utm.edu/marcus/)." *[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy")*. 5. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-5)** Roberts, John, ed. 23 October 2011. "[Aurēlius, Marcus](https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192801463.001.0001/acref-9780192801463-e-290?rskey=jNKHnH&result=282)." *The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World*. 6. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-hadot_22_6-0)** [Hadot 1998](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFHadot1998), p. 22 7. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-7)** Birley, Anthony (2012). *Marcus Aurelius: A Biography*. Routledge. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1134695690](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1134695690 "Special:BookSources/978-1134695690") . 8. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xv_8-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xv 9. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-hadot_24_9-0)** [Hadot 1998](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFHadot1998), p. 24 10. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvi_10-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xvi 11. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvii_11-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvii_11-1) [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xvii 12. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-2) [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xviii 13. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-4) [Haines 1916](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFHaines1916), p. xv 14. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xx_14-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xx_14-1) [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xx 15. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-15)** Hays, Gregory (2002). *"Introduction" in Meditations: A New Translation*. The Modern Library. p. 51. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0679642602](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0679642602 "Special:BookSources/978-0679642602") . 16. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-3) [Haines 1916](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFHaines1916), p. xvi 17. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xix_17-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xix 18. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-18)** Hall, Frederick William (1913). *A companion to classical texts*. Clarendon Press. p. 251. 19. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxii_19-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xxii 20. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-5) [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xxvii 21. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-21)** Murray, Gilbert (2002) \[1912\]. *Five Stages of Greek Religion* (3rd ed.). Dover Publications. pp. 168–169\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0486425009](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0486425009 "Special:BookSources/978-0486425009") . 22. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-22)** [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") (1964). [*Meditations*](https://archive.org/details/meditations0000marc_m9z0). London: [Penguin Books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_Books "Penguin Books"). pp. [2](https://archive.org/details/meditations0000marc_m9z0/page/n63)–27. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0140441406](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0140441406 "Special:BookSources/978-0140441406") . `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#invalid_isbn_date "Help:CS1 errors")) 23. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-Rees_23-0)** Rees, D. A. 1992. "Introduction." In *Meditations*, edited by A. S. L. Farquhrson (1944). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0679412717](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0679412717 "Special:BookSources/978-0679412717") . p. xvii. 24. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-24)** [Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Interviewed](https://www.newsweek.com/chinese-prime-minister-wen-jiabao-interviewed-89187), *Newsweek* 25. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-25)** ["An American reader: Bill Clinton"](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/07/america-reads-bill-clinton.html). *[Los Angeles Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times "Los Angeles Times")*. 2009-07-04. 26. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-26)** [Marcus Aurelius, *De seipso, seu vita sua, libri 12*](https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10169588?page=1) ed. and trans. by Xylander. Zürich: Andreas Gessner, 1558. 27. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECeporina201254_27-0)** [Ceporina 2012](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFCeporina2012), p. 54. ### Sources \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: Sources")\] - Ceporina, Matteo (2012), "The Meditations", in Marcel van Ackeren (ed.), *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius*, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 45–61 - Farquharson, A. S. L. (1944), "Introduction", *The Meditations Of The Emperor Marcus Antoninus*, vol. 1, Oxford University Press - Hadot, Pierre (1998), *The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*, Harvard University Press, [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0674461710](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0674461710 "Special:BookSources/978-0674461710") - Haines, C. R. (1916), "Introduction", *The communings with himself of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*, William Heinemann ## Further reading \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Further reading")\] - Annas, Julia. 2004. "Marcus Aurelius: Ethics and Its Background." *Rhizai: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science* 2:103–119. - Berryman, Sylvia Ann. 2010. *The Puppet and the Sage: Images of the Self in Marcus Aurelius* *Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy* 38: 187–209. - Dickson, Keith. 2009. "Oneself as Others: Aurelius and Autobiography." *Arethusa* 42.1: 99–125. - Gill, Christopher. 2012. "Marcus and Previous Stoic Literature." In *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.* Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 382–395. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. - Hadot, Pierre. 2001. *The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.* Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. - Kraye, Jill. 2012. "Marcus Aurelius and Neostoicism in Early Modern Philosophy." In *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.* Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 515–531. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. - Rees, D. A. 2000. "Joseph Bryennius and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations." *Classical Quarterly* 52.2: 584–596. - Robertson, D. 2019. [*How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xGBbDwAAQBAJ). New York: St. Martin's Press. - Rutherford, R. B. 1989. *The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: A Study.* Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Stephens, William O. 2012. [*Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed*](https://books.google.com/books?id=qxT-TeS-JOIC). London and New York: Bloomsbury (Continuum). - Wolf, Edita. 2016. "Others as Matter of Indifference in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations." *Acta Universitatis Carolinae. Graecolatina Pragensia* 2:13–23. ## External links \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: External links")\] [![Wikisource logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) English [Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has original text related to this article: **[Meditations](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Author:Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus "s:en:Author:Marcus Aurelius Antoninus")** [![Wikisource logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) Greek [Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has original text related to this article: **[Meditations](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/el:%CE%A4%E1%BD%B0_%CE%B5%E1%BC%B0%CF%82_%E1%BC%91%CE%B1%CF%85%CF%84%CF%8C%CE%BD "s:el:Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν")** ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/40px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png) Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Meditations](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "q:Marcus Aurelius")***. [![Wikimedia Commons logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/40px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg) Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Meditations by Marcus Aurelius](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Meditations_by_Marcus_Aurelius "commons:Category:Meditations by Marcus Aurelius"). ### Studies \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: Studies")\] - Sellars, John. ["Marcus Aurelius"](https://iep.utm.edu/marcus). In Fieser, James; Dowden, Bradley (eds.). *[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy")*. [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [2161-0002](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2161-0002). [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_\(identifier\) "OCLC (identifier)") [37741658](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/37741658). ### Translations \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: Translations")\] - [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/20px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) [The Thoughts Of The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Thoughts_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus "s:The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus"). translated by [George Long](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Long_\(scholar\) "George Long (scholar)"), at *[Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource")* - *[Meditations](https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/marcus-aurelius/meditations/george-long)* at [Standard Ebooks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Ebooks "Standard Ebooks") - [The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, by George Long](https://www.stoictherapy.com/elibrary-meditations-long), 1862, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary - [*Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself: an English translation with introductory study on stoicism and the last of the Stoics*, by G.H. Rendall](https://www.stoictherapy.com/elibrary-meditations-rendall), 1898, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary - [*The Meditations* by Marcus Aurelius](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2680) at *[Project Gutenberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Gutenberg "Project Gutenberg")*, [gutenberg.org](http://www.gutenberg.org/) - ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Speaker_Icon.svg/20px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png) [*The Meditations*](https://librivox.org/search?title=The+Meditations&author=Aurelius&reader=&keywords=&genre_id=0&status=all&project_type=either&recorded_language=&sort_order=catalog_date&search_page=1&search_form=advanced) public domain audiobook at [LibriVox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibriVox "LibriVox") - [*Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, \&c., by R. Graves](https://books.google.com/books?id=3uQIAAAAQAAJ), 1792, at *[Google Books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Books "Google Books")* - [Multiple editions of the *Meditations*](https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Marcus%20Aurelius%22) at the *[Internet Archive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Archive "Internet Archive")* | [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Marcus_Aurelius_navbox "Template:Marcus Aurelius navbox") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Marcus_Aurelius_navbox "Template talk:Marcus Aurelius navbox") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Marcus_Aurelius_navbox "Special:EditPage/Template:Marcus Aurelius navbox")[Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") | | |---|---| | [Early life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Early life of Marcus Aurelius") [Reign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reign_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Reign of Marcus Aurelius") | | | Military campaigns | | | | | | [Roman–Parthian War of 161–166](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman%E2%80%93Parthian_War_of_161%E2%80%93166 "Roman–Parthian War of 161–166") | [Siege of Edessa (163)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Edessa_\(163\) "Siege of Edessa (163)") [Siege of Edessa (165)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Edessa_\(165\) "Siege of Edessa (165)") [Battle of Dura-Europos (165)](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Dura-Europos_\(165\)&action=edit&redlink=1 "Battle of Dura-Europos (165) (page does not exist)") [Battle of Ctesiphon (165)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ctesiphon_\(165\) "Battle of Ctesiphon (165)") | | [Marcomannic Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcomannic_Wars "Marcomannic Wars") | [Roman units](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_military_units_that_participated_in_the_Marcomannic_Wars "List of Roman military units that participated in the Marcomannic Wars") [Battle of Carnuntum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Carnuntum "Battle of Carnuntum") | | Events | [Antonine Plague](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonine_Plague "Antonine Plague") | | Buildings | [Temple of Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Temple of Marcus Aurelius") [Arch of Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_of_Marcus_Aurelius_\(Rome\) "Arch of Marcus Aurelius (Rome)") [Column of Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Column_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Column of Marcus Aurelius") | | Works | *[Meditations]()* [Philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius") | | [Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerva%E2%80%93Antonine_dynasty "Nerva–Antonine dynasty") | | | | | | Close family | [Marcus Annius Verus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Annius_Verus_\(father_of_Marcus_Aurelius\) "Marcus Annius Verus (father of Marcus Aurelius)") (father) [Domitia Lucilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitia_Lucilla_\(mother_of_Marcus_Aurelius\) "Domitia Lucilla (mother of Marcus Aurelius)") (mother) [Annia Cornificia Faustina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annia_Cornificia_Faustina "Annia Cornificia Faustina") (sister) [Marcus Annius Verus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Annius_Verus_\(grandfather_of_Marcus_Aurelius\) "Marcus Annius Verus (grandfather of Marcus Aurelius)") (grandfather, adoptive father) [Rupilia Faustina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupilia_Faustina "Rupilia Faustina") (grandmother) [Antoninus Pius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoninus_Pius "Antoninus Pius") (adoptive father, father-in-law) [Faustina the Elder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faustina_the_Elder "Faustina the Elder") (aunt, mother-in-law) [Marcus Annius Libo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Annius_Libo "Marcus Annius Libo") (uncle) [Ceionia Fabia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceionia_Fabia "Ceionia Fabia") (fiancee) [Faustina the Younger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faustina_the_Younger "Faustina the Younger") (wife) | | Children | [Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annia_Aurelia_Galeria_Lucilla "Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla") [Annia Galeria Aurelia Faustina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annia_Galeria_Aurelia_Faustina "Annia Galeria Aurelia Faustina") [Annia Aurelia Fadilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fadilla "Fadilla") [Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annia_Cornificia_Faustina_Minor "Annia Cornificia Faustina Minor") [Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Aurelius_Commodus_Antoninus "Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus") [Marcus Annius Verus Caesar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Annius_Verus_Caesar "Marcus Annius Verus Caesar") [Vibia Aurelia Sabina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibia_Aurelia_Sabina "Vibia Aurelia Sabina") | | Circle | | | | | | Statesmen | [Lucius Verus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Verus "Lucius Verus") (co-emperor) [Gaius Aufidius Victorinus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Aufidius_Victorinus "Gaius Aufidius Victorinus") [Lucius Catilius Severus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Catilius_Severus "Lucius Catilius Severus") [Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Dasumius_Tullius_Tuscus "Lucius Dasumius Tullius Tuscus") [Tiberius Haterius Saturnius](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tiberius_Haterius_Saturnius&action=edit&redlink=1 "Tiberius Haterius Saturnius (page does not exist)") [Marcus Iallius Bassus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Iallius_Bassus "Marcus Iallius Bassus") [Gaius Julius Sohaemus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sohaemus_of_Armenia "Sohaemus of Armenia") | | Generals | [Avidius Cassius‎](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avidius_Cassius "Avidius Cassius") [Sextus Calpurnius Agricola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextus_Calpurnius_Agricola "Sextus Calpurnius Agricola") [Tiberius Claudius Candidus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Claudius_Candidus "Tiberius Claudius Candidus") [Marcus Claudius Fronto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Claudius_Fronto "Marcus Claudius Fronto") [Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Claudius_Pompeianus "Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus") [Gaius Vettius Sabinianus Julius Hospes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Vettius_Sabinianus_Julius_Hospes "Gaius Vettius Sabinianus Julius Hospes") | | Tutors | [Trosius Aper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trosius_Aper "Trosius Aper") [Eutychius Proclus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutychius_Proclus "Eutychius Proclus") [Quintus Junius Rusticus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Junius_Rusticus "Quintus Junius Rusticus") [Diognetus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diognetus "Diognetus") [Claudius Maximus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudius_Maximus "Claudius Maximus") [Apollonius of Chalcedon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollonius_of_Chalcedon "Apollonius of Chalcedon") [Alexander of Cotiaeum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_of_Cotiaeum "Alexander of Cotiaeum") [Trosius Aper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trosius_Aper "Trosius Aper") [Tuticius Proculus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuticius_Proculus "Tuticius Proculus") [Herodes Atticus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodes_Atticus "Herodes Atticus") [Marcus Cornelius Fronto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Cornelius_Fronto "Marcus Cornelius Fronto") [Lucius Volusius Maecianus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Volusius_Maecianus "Lucius Volusius Maecianus") [Sextus of Chaeronea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextus_of_Chaeronea "Sextus of Chaeronea") | | Freedmen | [Agaclytus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaclytus_\(freedman\) "Agaclytus (freedman)") | | Cultural depictions | | | | | | Ancient era | [Great Antonine Altar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Antonine_Altar "Great Antonine Altar") [Equestrian statue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equestrian_statue_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius") [50 euro cent coin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_euro_coins "Italian euro coins") [Golden bust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_bust_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Golden bust of Marcus Aurelius") | | | | | Modern era | *[Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Considerations_on_the_Causes_of_the_Greatness_of_the_Romans_and_their_Decline "Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline")* *[Last Words of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Words_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius "Last Words of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius")* | | | | | Contemporary era | [*The Fall of the Roman Empire*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fall_of_the_Roman_Empire_\(film\) "The Fall of the Roman Empire (film)") *[The Two Gladiators](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Gladiators "The Two Gladiators")* *[A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_God_Strolling_in_the_Cool_of_the_Evening "A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening")* [*Gladiator*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator_\(2000_film\) "Gladiator (2000 film)") | | Related topics | *[Calvatone Victoria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvatone_Victoria "Calvatone Victoria")* | | ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/96/Symbol_category_class.svg/20px-Symbol_category_class.svg.png) [Category](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Marcus_Aurelius "Category:Marcus Aurelius") | | | [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Stoicism "Template:Stoicism") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Stoicism "Template talk:Stoicism") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Stoicism "Special:EditPage/Template:Stoicism")[Stoicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism "Stoicism") | | |---|---| | [Philosophers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Stoic_philosophers "List of Stoic philosophers") | | | | | | Greek | | | | | | [Scholarchs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholarch "Scholarch") of the Stoa | [Zeno of Citium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno_of_Citium "Zeno of Citium") [Cleanthes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleanthes "Cleanthes") [Chrysippus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysippus "Chrysippus") [Zeno of Tarsus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno_of_Tarsus "Zeno of Tarsus") [Diogenes of Babylon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_of_Babylon "Diogenes of Babylon") [Antipater of Tarsus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipater_of_Tarsus "Antipater of Tarsus") [Panaetius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panaetius "Panaetius") | | Roman | [Publius Rutilius Rufus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Rutilius_Rufus "Publius Rutilius Rufus") [Quintus Lucilius Balbus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Lucilius_Balbus "Quintus Lucilius Balbus") [Cato the Younger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cato_the_Younger "Cato the Younger") [Quintus Sextius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Sextius "Quintus Sextius") [Attalus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attalus_\(Stoic\) "Attalus (Stoic)") [Papirius Fabianus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papirius_Fabianus "Papirius Fabianus") [Seneca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger "Seneca the Younger") [Cornutus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Annaeus_Cornutus "Lucius Annaeus Cornutus") [Chaeremon of Alexandria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaeremon_of_Alexandria "Chaeremon of Alexandria") [Paconius Agrippinus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paconius_Agrippinus "Paconius Agrippinus") [Persius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persius "Persius") [Helvidius Priscus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvidius_Priscus "Helvidius Priscus") [Arulenus Rusticus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arulenus_Rusticus "Arulenus Rusticus") [Musonius Rufus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaius_Musonius_Rufus "Gaius Musonius Rufus") [Thrasea Paetus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Clodius_Thrasea_Paetus "Publius Clodius Thrasea Paetus") [Rubellius Plautus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubellius_Plautus "Rubellius Plautus") [Barea Soranus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barea_Soranus "Barea Soranus") [Publius Egnatius Celer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publius_Egnatius_Celer "Publius Egnatius Celer") [Mara bar Serapion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_bar_Serapion "Mara bar Serapion") [Euphrates](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates_the_Stoic "Euphrates the Stoic") [Epictetus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epictetus "Epictetus") [Hierocles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierocles_\(Stoic\) "Hierocles (Stoic)") [Claudius Maximus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudius_Maximus "Claudius Maximus") [Basilides](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilides_\(Stoic\) "Basilides (Stoic)") [Apollonius of Chalcedon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollonius_of_Chalcedon "Apollonius of Chalcedon") [Junius Rusticus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junius_Rusticus "Junius Rusticus") [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") ([Philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_Marcus_Aurelius "Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius")) | | [Philosophical concepts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_Stoicism_terms "Glossary of Stoicism terms") | | | | | | Logic | *[Logos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logos "Logos")* *[Adiaphora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adiaphora "Adiaphora")* *[Katalepsis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katalepsis "Katalepsis")* *[Diairesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diairesis "Diairesis")* | | Physics | *[Physis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physis "Physis")* [Fire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_\(classical_element\) "Fire (classical element)") *[Pneuma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneuma "Pneuma")* | | Ethics | *[Pathos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoic_passions "Stoic passions")* *[Apatheia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apatheia "Apatheia")* *[Eudaimonia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudaimonia "Eudaimonia")* *[Kathekon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathekon "Kathekon")* [Negative visualization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_visualization "Negative visualization") *[Oikeiôsis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oikei%C3%B4sis "Oikeiôsis")* *[Prohairesis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohairesis "Prohairesis")* *[Sophos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sage_\(philosophy\) "Sage (philosophy)")* | | Works | [*On Passions* (Chrysippus)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Passions "On Passions") *[Paradoxa Stoicorum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradoxa_Stoicorum "Paradoxa Stoicorum")* [*Letters to Lucilius* (Seneca)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistulae_Morales_ad_Lucilium "Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium") [Seneca's Essays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca_the_Younger#Essays "Seneca the Younger") *[De Providentia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Providentia "De Providentia")* *[De Brevitate Vitae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Brevitate_Vitae_\(Seneca\) "De Brevitate Vitae (Seneca)")* *[De Vita Beata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Vita_Beata "De Vita Beata")* *[De Beneficiis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Beneficiis "De Beneficiis")* *[De Clementia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Clementia "De Clementia")* *[De Tranquillitate Animi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Tranquillitate_Animi "De Tranquillitate Animi")* *[De Ira](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Ira "De Ira")* *[De Otio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Otio "De Otio")* *[De Constantia Sapientis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Constantia_Sapientis "De Constantia Sapientis")* [Seneca's Consolations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneca%27s_Consolations "Seneca's Consolations") [*Lectures* (Musonius Rufus)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lectures_\(Musonius_Rufus\) "Lectures (Musonius Rufus)") *[Discourses of Epictetus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discourses_of_Epictetus "Discourses of Epictetus")* *[Enchiridion of Epictetus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchiridion_of_Epictetus "Enchiridion of Epictetus")* [*Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*]() *[Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicorum_Veterum_Fragmenta "Stoicorum Veterum Fragmenta")* | | Related articles | [Stoa Poikile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoa_Poikile "Stoa Poikile") [Stoic Opposition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoic_Opposition "Stoic Opposition") [Neostoicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neostoicism "Neostoicism") | | [Authority control databases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control") [![Edit this at Wikidata](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png)](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1152283#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata") | | |---|---| | International | [VIAF](https://viaf.org/viaf/312359587) [2](https://viaf.org/viaf/184493648) [3](https://viaf.org/viaf/179808791) [GND](https://d-nb.info/gnd/4131612-5) | | National | [United States](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n80058356) [France](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb12009379q) [BnF data](https://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb12009379q) [Japan](https://id.ndl.go.jp/auth/ndlna/01173219) [Spain](https://datos.bne.es/resource/XX2054861) [Sweden](https://libris.kb.se/q1jnhn1znxlb3nhz) [Poland](https://dbn.bn.org.pl/descriptor-details/9810648970505606) [Vatican](https://wikidata-externalid-url.toolforge.org/?p=8034&url_prefix=https://opac.vatlib.it/auth/detail/&id=492/8717) [Israel](https://www.nli.org.il/en/authorities/987007568067505171) | | Other | [IdRef](https://www.idref.fr/031718019) [2](https://www.idref.fr/028212630) [Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL1317211W?mode=all) [Yale LUX](https://lux.collections.yale.edu/view/text/621dedc5-4ca8-44c2-a5bb-77b43bc30824) | ![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1) Retrieved from "<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&oldid=1345553465>" [Categories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"): - [2nd-century books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:2nd-century_books "Category:2nd-century books") - [Nerva–Antonine dynasty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Nerva%E2%80%93Antonine_dynasty "Category:Nerva–Antonine dynasty") - [Ancient Stoic literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ancient_Stoic_literature "Category:Ancient Stoic literature") - [Texts in Koine Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Texts_in_Koine_Greek "Category:Texts in Koine Greek") - [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Marcus_Aurelius "Category:Marcus Aurelius") - [Ethics literature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ethics_literature "Category:Ethics literature") - [Works by Roman Emperors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Works_by_Roman_Emperors "Category:Works by Roman Emperors") Hidden categories: - [CS1 errors: ISBN date](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_errors:_ISBN_date "Category:CS1 errors: ISBN date") - [Articles with short description](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description "Category:Articles with short description") - [Short description is different from Wikidata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Short_description_is_different_from_Wikidata "Category:Short description is different from Wikidata") - [Articles containing Koine Greek-language text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_containing_Koine_Greek-language_text "Category:Articles containing Koine Greek-language text") - [Articles containing Greek-language text](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_containing_Greek-language_text "Category:Articles containing Greek-language text") - [Commons category link is on Wikidata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Commons_category_link_is_on_Wikidata "Category:Commons category link is on Wikidata") - [Articles with Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_with_Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy_links "Category:Articles with Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy links") - [Articles with LibriVox links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articles_with_LibriVox_links "Category:Articles with LibriVox links") - This page was last edited on 26 March 2026, at 18:37 (UTC). - Text is available under the [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License "Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License"); additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the [Terms of Use](https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms_of_Use "foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Terms of Use") and [Privacy Policy](https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy "foundation:Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy policy"). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the [Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.](https://wikimediafoundation.org/), a non-profit organization. - [Privacy policy](https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Privacy_policy) - [About Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About) - [Disclaimers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer) - [Contact Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us) - [Legal & safety contacts](https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Legal:Wikimedia_Foundation_Legal_and_Safety_Contact_Information) - [Code of Conduct](https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct) - [Developers](https://developer.wikimedia.org/) - [Statistics](https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/en.wikipedia.org) - [Cookie statement](https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Policy:Cookie_statement) - [Mobile view](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile) - [![Wikimedia Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/footer/wikimedia.svg)](https://www.wikimedia.org/) - [![Powered by MediaWiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/resources/assets/mediawiki_compact.svg)](https://www.mediawiki.org/) Search Toggle the table of contents *Meditations* 40 languages [Add topic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations)

Readable Markdown

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia | | | |---|---| | [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso%2C_seu_vita_sua_%28Xylander%2C_1558%29.jpg/250px-Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso%2C_seu_vita_sua_%28Xylander%2C_1558%29.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marcus_Aurelius._De_seipso,_seu_vita_sua_\(Xylander,_1558\).jpg)[Editio princeps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editio_princeps "Editio princeps") by [Wilhelm Xylander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Xylander "Wilhelm Xylander") in 1558 | | | Author | [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") | | Original title | *Unknown, probably untitled* | | Language | [Koine Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine_Greek "Koine Greek") | | Publication place | [Roman Empire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire "Roman Empire") | ***Meditations*** ([Koine Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine_Greek_language "Koine Greek language"): Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, romanized:*Ta eis heauton*, [lit.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literal_translation "Literal translation")''Things Unto Himself'') is a series of personal writings by [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius"), [Roman Emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Emperor "Roman Emperor") from 161–180 CE, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on [Stoic philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoic_philosophy "Stoic philosophy"). Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the *Meditations* in [Koine Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koine_Greek "Koine Greek")[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-1) as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-2) It is possible that large portions of the work were written at [Sirmium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirmium "Sirmium"), where he spent much time planning military campaigns in AD 170–180. A portion of his work was written while he was on campaign, because internal notes reveal that the first book was "written in the country of the [Quadi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadi "Quadi"), at the Granova"[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-3) (modern-day [Hron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hron "Hron") River in [Slovakia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovakia "Slovakia")) and the second book was written at [Carnuntum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnuntum "Carnuntum"). It is unlikely that Marcus Aurelius ever intended the writings to be published. 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. ## Structure and themes \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Meditations&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Structure and themes")\] The *Meditations* is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Aurelius' life. The passages in each book are not necessarily in chronological order, seeing as they were written as Aurelius' own personal musings. The style of writing that permeates the text is one that is simplified, straightforward, and perhaps reflecting Aurelius' [Stoic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism "Stoicism") perspective. A central theme to *Meditations* is the importance of analyzing one's judgment of self and others and developing a cosmic perspective:[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-4) > 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. Aurelius advocates finding one's place in the universe and sees that everything came from nature, and so everything shall return to it in due time. Another strong theme is of maintaining focus and to be without distraction all the while maintaining strong ethical principles such as "Being a good man."[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-5) His Stoic ideas often involve avoiding indulgence in sensory affections, a skill which 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. An internal orderly and rational nature, or *[logos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logos "Logos"),* permeates and guides all existence. [Rationality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality "Rationality") and [clear-mindedness](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equanimity "Equanimity") allow one to live in harmony with the *logos*. This allows one to rise above faulty perceptions of "good" and "bad"—things out of one's control like fame and wealth are (unlike things in one's control) irrelevant and neither good nor bad. The early history of the *Meditations* is unknown, and its earliest clear mention by another writer dates from the early 10th century.[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-hadot_22-6) The historian [Herodian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodian "Herodian"), writing in the mid-3rd century, makes mention of Marcus' literary legacy, saying "He was concerned with all aspects of excellence, and in his love of ancient literature he was second to no man, Roman or Greek; this is evident from all his sayings and writings which have come down to us", a passage which may refer to the *Meditations*. The *[Historia Augusta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historia_Augusta "Historia Augusta")'*s biography of [Avidius Cassius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avidius_Cassius "Avidius Cassius"), thought to have been written in the 4th century, records that before Marcus set out on the [Marcomannic Wars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcomannic_Wars "Marcomannic Wars"), he was asked to publish his *Precepts of Philosophy* in case something should befall him, but he instead "for three days discussed the books of his *Exhortations* one after the other".[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-7) A doubtful mention is made by the orator [Themistius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Themistius "Themistius") in about 364 C.E. In an address to the emperor [Valens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valens "Valens"), *On Brotherly Love*, he says: "You do not need the exhortations ([Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language"): παραγγέλματα) of Marcus."[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xv-8) Another possible reference, in the [Greek Anthology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Anthology "Greek Anthology"), is an epigram dedicated to "the Book of Marcus," which has been attributed to the 7th century [Byzantine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empire "Byzantine Empire") scholar [Theophylact Simocatta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophylact_Simocatta "Theophylact Simocatta").[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-hadot_24-9) The first direct mention of the work comes from [Arethas of Caesarea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arethas_of_Caesarea "Arethas of Caesarea") (c. 860–935), a bishop who was a great collector of manuscripts.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvi-10) At some date before 907 he sent a volume of the *Meditations* to Demetrius, [Archbishop of Heracleia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archdiocese_of_Heraclea_in_Europe&action=edit&redlink=1 "Archdiocese of Heraclea in Europe (page does not exist)") \[[it](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcidiocesi_di_Eraclea_di_Europa "it:Arcidiocesi di Eraclea di Europa")\], with a letter saying: "I have had for some time an old copy of the Emperor Marcus' most profitable book, so old indeed that it is altogether falling to pieces.… This I have had copied and am able to hand down to posterity in its new dress."[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvii-11) Arethas also mentions the work in marginal notes (*[scholia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scholia "Scholia")*) to books by [Lucian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucian "Lucian") and [Dio Chrysostom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dio_Chrysostom "Dio Chrysostom") where he refers to passages in the "Treatise to Himself" ([Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language"): τὰ εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἠθικά), and it was this title which the book bore in the manuscript from which the first printed edition was made in the 16th century.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12)[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) Arethas' own copy has now vanished, but it is thought to be the likely ancestor of the surviving manuscripts.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xvii-11) The next mention of the *Meditations* is in the *[Suda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suda "Suda")* lexicon published in the late 10th century.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12) The *Suda* calls the work "a directing ([Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language"): ἀγωγή) of his own life by Marcus the Emperor in twelve books,"[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) which is the first mention of a division of the work into twelve books.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xviii-12) The *Suda* makes use of some thirty quotations taken from books I, III, IV, V, IX, and XI.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) Around 1150, [John Tzetzes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tzetzes "John Tzetzes"), a grammarian of Constantinople, quotes passages from Books IV and V attributing them to Marcus.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13) About 200 years later [Nicephorus Callistus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicephorus_Callistus "Nicephorus Callistus") (c. 1295–1360) in his *Ecclesiastical History* writes that "Marcus Antoninus composed a book for the education of his son Marcus \[i.e. [Commodus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodus "Commodus")\], full of all worldly ([Greek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language "Greek language"): κοσμικῆς) experience and instruction."[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xv-13)[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xx-14) The *Meditations* is thereafter quoted in many Greek compilations from the 14th to 16th centuries.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xx-14) This, specifically after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, as it was among the Greek texts reintroduced by fleeing scholars to European intellectual circles.[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-15) The present-day text is based almost entirely upon two manuscripts. One is the *Codex Palatinus* (P), also known as the *Codex Toxitanus* (T), that was first published in 1558–59 but is now lost.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) The other manuscript is the *Codex Vaticanus 1950* (A) in the [Vatican Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_Library "Vatican Library"),[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) which passed there from the collection of [Stefano Gradi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefano_Gradi "Stefano Gradi") in 1683.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xix-17) This is a 14th-century manuscript which survives in a very corrupt state, and about forty-two lines have dropped out by accidental omissions.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16)[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-18) Other manuscripts are of little independent value for reconstructing the text.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxii-19) The main ones are the *Codex Darmstadtinus 2773* (D) with 112 extracts from books I–IX, and the *Codex Parisinus 319* (C) with 29 extracts from Books I–IV.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-haines_xvi-16) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Library_Walk_35.JPG/250px-Library_Walk_35.JPG)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Library_Walk_35.JPG) "Everything is only for a day, both that which remembers and that which is remembered" The modern history of the *Meditations* dates from the issue of the first printed edition (*[editio princeps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editio_princeps "Editio princeps")*) by [Wilhelm Xylander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Xylander "Wilhelm Xylander") in 1558 or 1559.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) It was published at the instigation of [Conrad Gesner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Gesner "Conrad Gesner") and printed by his cousin Andreas Gesner at [Zürich](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z%C3%BCrich "Zürich").[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) The book was bound with a work by [Marinus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinus_of_Neapolis "Marinus of Neapolis") (*Proclus vel De Felicitate*, also a first edition).[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) To the *Meditations* was added a Latin translation by Xylander who also included brief notes.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) Conrad Gesner stated in his dedicatory letter that he "received the books of Marcus from the gifted poet [Michael Toxites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Toxites "Michael Toxites") from the library of [Otto Heinrich, Prince Palatine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Henry,_Elector_Palatine "Otto Henry, Elector Palatine")", i.e. from the collection at [Heidelberg University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_University "Heidelberg University").[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) The importance of this edition of the *Meditations* is that the manuscript from which it was printed is now lost, so that it is one of the two principal sources of all modern texts.[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-farky_xxvii-20) [Gilbert Murray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Murray "Gilbert Murray") compares the work to [Jean-Jacques Rousseau's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau "Jean-Jacques Rousseau") *[Confessions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_\(Rousseau\) "Confessions (Rousseau)")* and [St. Augustine's](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo "Augustine of Hippo") *[Confessions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_\(Augustine\) "Confessions (Augustine)")*.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-21) In the Introduction to his 1964 translation of *Meditations*, the Anglican priest [Maxwell Staniforth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Staniforth "Maxwell Staniforth") discussed the profound impact of [Stoicism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism "Stoicism") on [Christianity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity "Christianity").[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-22) Rees (1992) calls the *Meditations* "unendingly moving and inspiring," but does not offer them up as works of original philosophy, though he does find an element of Marcus' Stoic philosophy in the philosophical system of [Immanuel Kant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanuel_Kant "Immanuel Kant").[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-Rees-23) [Wen Jiabao](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wen_Jiabao "Wen Jiabao"), the former Prime Minister of China, has said that he has read the *Meditations* a hundred times. He also stated that he was "very deeply impressed" by the work.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-24) It has been described as "a favorite" of former United States President [Bill Clinton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton "Bill Clinton").[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-25) The *[editio princeps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Editio_princeps "Editio princeps")* (first print edition) of the original Greek was published by [Conrad Gessner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Gessner "Conrad Gessner") and his cousin Andreas in 1559. Both it and the accompanying Latin translation were produced by [Wilhelm Xylander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Xylander "Wilhelm Xylander"). His source was a manuscript from [Heidelberg University](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_University "Heidelberg University"), provided by [Michael Toxites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Toxites "Michael Toxites"). By 1568, when Xylander completed his second edition, he no longer had access to the source and it has been lost ever since.[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-26)[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_note-FOOTNOTECeporina201254-27) The first English translation was published in 1634 by [Meric Casaubon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meric_Casaubon "Meric Casaubon"). Some popular English translations include: - [Francis Hutcheson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Hutcheson_\(philosopher\) "Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)"), and James Moore (1742). *The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*. Indianapolis: [Liberty Fund](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Fund "Liberty Fund"), 2008. Originally printed by [Foulis Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Foulis_\(printer\) "Robert Foulis (printer)"). - [Richard Graves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Graves "Richard Graves") (1792). *Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, \&c., by R. Graves*, 1792; new edition, Halifax, 1826. - [George Long](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Long_\(scholar\) "George Long (scholar)") (1862). *The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*; reprinted many times, including in Vol. 2 of the [Harvard Classics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Classics "Harvard Classics"). - [Chrystal, George W](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Chrystal_\(civil_servant\) "George Chrystal (civil servant)"). (1902). *The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: A New Rendering Based on the Foulis Translation of 1742*, (Edinburgh: O. Schulze and Co.; London: S. C. Brown and Co., 1902). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [9781977864116](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781977864116 "Special:BookSources/9781977864116") - C. R. Haines (1916). *Marcus Aurelius*. [Loeb Classical Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loeb_Classical_Library "Loeb Classical Library"). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0674990641](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0674990641 "Special:BookSources/0674990641") - [A. S. L. Farquharson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._S._L._Farquharson "A. S. L. Farquharson") (1944). *Marcus Aurelius Meditations*. [Everyman's Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everyman%27s_Library "Everyman's Library") reprint edition (1992) [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0679412719](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0679412719 "Special:BookSources/0679412719") . [Oxford World's Classics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_World%27s_Classics "Oxford World's Classics") revised edition (1998) [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0199540594](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0199540594 "Special:BookSources/0199540594") - Classics Club (1945). *Meditations. Marcus Aurelius and his times*. Walter J. Black, Inc. New York. - [Maxwell Staniforth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Staniforth "Maxwell Staniforth") (1969). *Meditations*. Penguin. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0140441409](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0140441409 "Special:BookSources/0140441409") - Gregory Hays (2002). *Meditations*. Random House. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0679642609](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0679642609 "Special:BookSources/0679642609") (181 pages) - C. Scot Hicks, David V. Hicks (2002). *The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations*. Simon & Schuster. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0743233832](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0743233832 "Special:BookSources/0743233832") - [Martin Hammond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Hammond "Martin Hammond") (2006). *Meditations*. Penguin Classics. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [0140449337](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0140449337 "Special:BookSources/0140449337") - [Jacob Needleman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Needleman "Jacob Needleman"), and John P. Piazza (2008) *The Essential Marcus Aurelius*. J. P. Tarcher. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1585426171](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1585426171 "Special:BookSources/978-1585426171") (111 pages) - Robin Hard, and Christopher Gill (2011). *Meditations with selected correspondence*. Oxford University Press [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0199573202](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0199573202 "Special:BookSources/978-0199573202") - [Robin Waterfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Waterfield "Robin Waterfield") (2021). *Meditations: The Annotated Edition*. Basic Books. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1-5416-7385-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-5416-7385-4 "Special:BookSources/978-1-5416-7385-4") - [John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bourchier,_2nd_Baron_Berners "John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners") - *[Memento mori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori "Memento mori")* 1. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-1)** Swain, Simon (1996). *Hellenism and Empire*. Oxford University Press. p. 29. "Close imitation of [Attic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attic_Greek "Attic Greek") was not required because [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") wrote in a philosophical context without thought of publication. [Galen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galen "Galen")'s many writings in what he calls 'the common dialect' are another excellent example of non-atticizing but highly educated Greek." 2. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-2)** [Iain King](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_King "Iain King") suggests the books may also have been written for mental stimulation, as Aurelius was removed from the cultural and intellectual life of Rome for the first time in his life. Source: [Thinker At War: Marcus Aurelius](http://www.military-history.org/articles/thinkers-at-war-marcus-aurelius.htm) published August 2014, accessed November 2014. 3. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-3)** [*The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Translated from the Greek. By Jeremy Collier*](https://dn720006.ca.archive.org/0/items/meditationsofmar00marc/meditationsofmar00marc.pdf), London, 1887. 4. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-4)** Sellars, John. 23 October 2011. "[Marcus Aurelius](http://www.iep.utm.edu/marcus/)." *[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy")*. 5. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-5)** Roberts, John, ed. 23 October 2011. "[Aurēlius, Marcus](https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780192801463.001.0001/acref-9780192801463-e-290?rskey=jNKHnH&result=282)." *The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World*. 6. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-hadot_22_6-0)** [Hadot 1998](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFHadot1998), p. 22 7. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-7)** Birley, Anthony (2012). *Marcus Aurelius: A Biography*. Routledge. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-1134695690](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1134695690 "Special:BookSources/978-1134695690") . 8. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xv_8-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xv 9. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-hadot_24_9-0)** [Hadot 1998](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFHadot1998), p. 24 10. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvi_10-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xvi 11. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvii_11-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xvii_11-1) [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xvii 12. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xviii_12-2) [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xviii 13. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xv_13-4) [Haines 1916](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFHaines1916), p. xv 14. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xx_14-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xx_14-1) [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xx 15. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-15)** Hays, Gregory (2002). *"Introduction" in Meditations: A New Translation*. The Modern Library. p. 51. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0679642602](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0679642602 "Special:BookSources/978-0679642602") . 16. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-haines_xvi_16-3) [Haines 1916](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFHaines1916), p. xvi 17. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xix_17-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xix 18. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-18)** Hall, Frederick William (1913). *A companion to classical texts*. Clarendon Press. p. 251. 19. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxii_19-0)** [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xxii 20. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-farky_xxvii_20-5) [Farquharson 1944](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFFarquharson1944), p. xxvii 21. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-21)** Murray, Gilbert (2002) \[1912\]. *Five Stages of Greek Religion* (3rd ed.). Dover Publications. pp. 168–169\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0486425009](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0486425009 "Special:BookSources/978-0486425009") . 22. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-22)** [Marcus Aurelius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius "Marcus Aurelius") (1964). [*Meditations*](https://archive.org/details/meditations0000marc_m9z0). London: [Penguin Books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_Books "Penguin Books"). pp. [2](https://archive.org/details/meditations0000marc_m9z0/page/n63)–27. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0140441406](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0140441406 "Special:BookSources/978-0140441406") . 23. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-Rees_23-0)** Rees, D. A. 1992. "Introduction." In *Meditations*, edited by A. S. L. Farquhrson (1944). New York: Alfred A. Knopf. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0679412717](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0679412717 "Special:BookSources/978-0679412717") . p. xvii. 24. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-24)** [Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao Interviewed](https://www.newsweek.com/chinese-prime-minister-wen-jiabao-interviewed-89187), *Newsweek* 25. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-25)** ["An American reader: Bill Clinton"](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/07/america-reads-bill-clinton.html). *[Los Angeles Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Times "Los Angeles Times")*. 2009-07-04. 26. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-26)** [Marcus Aurelius, *De seipso, seu vita sua, libri 12*](https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10169588?page=1) ed. and trans. by Xylander. Zürich: Andreas Gessner, 1558. 27. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECeporina201254_27-0)** [Ceporina 2012](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations#CITEREFCeporina2012), p. 54. - Ceporina, Matteo (2012), "The Meditations", in Marcel van Ackeren (ed.), *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius*, Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 45–61 - Farquharson, A. S. L. (1944), "Introduction", *The Meditations Of The Emperor Marcus Antoninus*, vol. 1, Oxford University Press - Hadot, Pierre (1998), *The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius*, Harvard University Press, [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)") [978-0674461710](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0674461710 "Special:BookSources/978-0674461710") - Haines, C. R. (1916), "Introduction", *The communings with himself of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*, William Heinemann - Annas, Julia. 2004. "Marcus Aurelius: Ethics and Its Background." *Rhizai: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science* 2:103–119. - Berryman, Sylvia Ann. 2010. *The Puppet and the Sage: Images of the Self in Marcus Aurelius* *Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy* 38: 187–209. - Dickson, Keith. 2009. "Oneself as Others: Aurelius and Autobiography." *Arethusa* 42.1: 99–125. - Gill, Christopher. 2012. "Marcus and Previous Stoic Literature." In *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.* Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 382–395. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. - Hadot, Pierre. 2001. *The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.* Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. - Kraye, Jill. 2012. "Marcus Aurelius and Neostoicism in Early Modern Philosophy." In *A Companion to Marcus Aurelius.* Edited by Marcel van Ackeren, 515–531. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. - Rees, D. A. 2000. "Joseph Bryennius and Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations." *Classical Quarterly* 52.2: 584–596. - Robertson, D. 2019. [*How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xGBbDwAAQBAJ). New York: St. Martin's Press. - Rutherford, R. B. 1989. *The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: A Study.* Oxford: Oxford University Press. - Stephens, William O. 2012. [*Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed*](https://books.google.com/books?id=qxT-TeS-JOIC). London and New York: Bloomsbury (Continuum). - Wolf, Edita. 2016. "Others as Matter of Indifference in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations." *Acta Universitatis Carolinae. Graecolatina Pragensia* 2:13–23. [![Wikisource logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) English [Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has original text related to this article: [![Wikisource logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) Greek [Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has original text related to this article: - Sellars, John. ["Marcus Aurelius"](https://iep.utm.edu/marcus). In Fieser, James; Dowden, Bradley (eds.). *[Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy "Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy")*. [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [2161-0002](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2161-0002). [OCLC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC_\(identifier\) "OCLC (identifier)") [37741658](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/37741658). - [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/20px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) [The Thoughts Of The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Thoughts_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus "s:The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus"). translated by [George Long](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Long_\(scholar\) "George Long (scholar)"), at *[Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource")* - *[Meditations](https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/marcus-aurelius/meditations/george-long)* at [Standard Ebooks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Ebooks "Standard Ebooks") - [The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, by George Long](https://www.stoictherapy.com/elibrary-meditations-long), 1862, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary - [*Marcus Aurelius Antoninus to Himself: an English translation with introductory study on stoicism and the last of the Stoics*, by G.H. Rendall](https://www.stoictherapy.com/elibrary-meditations-rendall), 1898, at the Stoic Therapy eLibrary - [*The Meditations* by Marcus Aurelius](http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2680) at *[Project Gutenberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Gutenberg "Project Gutenberg")*, [gutenberg.org](http://www.gutenberg.org/) - ![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Speaker_Icon.svg/20px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png) [*The Meditations*](https://librivox.org/search?title=The+Meditations&author=Aurelius&reader=&keywords=&genre_id=0&status=all&project_type=either&recorded_language=&sort_order=catalog_date&search_page=1&search_form=advanced) public domain audiobook at [LibriVox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LibriVox "LibriVox") - [*Meditations of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus*, a new translation from the Greek original, with a Life, Notes, \&c., by R. Graves](https://books.google.com/books?id=3uQIAAAAQAAJ), 1792, at *[Google Books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Books "Google Books")* - [Multiple editions of the *Meditations*](https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Marcus%20Aurelius%22) at the *[Internet Archive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Archive "Internet Archive")*

ML Classification

ML Categories

/Arts_and_Entertainment		49.2%
/Arts_and_Entertainment/Other		28.2%
/Books_and_Literature		21.6%
/Books_and_Literature/Literary_Classics		18.0%
/People_and_Society		16.2%
/People_and_Society/Social_Sciences		11.4%
/People_and_Society/Social_Sciences/Psychology		10.9%

Raw JSON

{
    "/Arts_and_Entertainment": 492,
    "/Arts_and_Entertainment/Other": 282,
    "/Books_and_Literature": 216,
    "/Books_and_Literature/Literary_Classics": 180,
    "/People_and_Society": 162,
    "/People_and_Society/Social_Sciences": 114,
    "/People_and_Society/Social_Sciences/Psychology": 109
}

ML Page Types

/Article		99.8%
/Article/Wiki		77.8%

Raw JSON

{
    "/Article": 998,
    "/Article/Wiki": 778
}

ML Intent Types

Informational

99.9%

Raw JSON

{
    "Informational": 999
}

Content Metadata

Language

Author

null

Publish Time

not set

Original Publish Time

2013-08-08 16:25:35 (12 years ago)

Republished

Word Count (Total)

3,830

Word Count (Content)

2,815

Links

External Links

Internal Links

391

Technical SEO

Meta Nofollow

Meta Noarchive

JS Rendered

Redirect Target

null

Performance

Download Time (ms)

TTFB (ms)

Download Size (bytes)

40,459

Shard

152 (laksa)

Root Hash

17790707453426894952

Unparsed URL

org,wikipedia!en,/wiki/Meditations s443