Meditations

Summary of the Book

Timeless and immortal in its messages, this book gives readers a look into the mind of one of the most influential rulers to have held the title of Caesar. Originally written as 12 books, this was first written as a source of personal improvement and guidance. These thoughts were penned down over different periods of his life, and boast a straightforward style. Instead of a ruler, Marcus Aurelius comes across as an ordinary man. He believed in self-analysis and judgment. He often searched for his place in the universe and believed that all men should strive for the same goal. Everything has come from nature, and shall return to it in time. Praised for his impassionate writing style which helped him write what he thought honestly, he also did not care for the opinion of others or criticism. He had never imagined that it would influence hundreds of thousands of people later, sealing his fate as one of the wisest men to have ever lived. He understood completely that life is a temporary thing, that the present is but a moment in the cosmic glory of the universe and that goodness, justice and honesty alone are paramount. Nothing was of more value to Marcus Aurelius than human virtues, and this is self-evident in his writings. The book is a must read for everyone looking for wisdom, and ready to be changed anew by the words of a man who knew that though he was an Emperor, he was an ordinary man.

About Marcus Aurelius

Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antonius Augustus was the Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 A.D. Widely considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers and the last of the Five Good Emperors, he led the battles in Central Europe against the Marcomanni, Quadi, and Sarmatians during the Marcomannic Wars.

Marcus Aurelius' book on Stoic philosophy has influenced several political leaders over the millennia, including Frederick the Great, John Stuart Mill, Matthew Arnold, Goethe, Wen Jiabao, and Bill Clinton.