Meditations

Meditations is a collection of prose philosophical reflections and exercises composed in Koine Greek by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, who lived from 121-180 and ruled from 161-180. Though the precise dating of his compositions is unknown and they are not believed to be presented in chronological order, at least some of the books were written while he was on military campaign in the north of Europe during his reign. Scholars are generally in consensus that Marcus wrote to and for himself as he struggled to live by the Stoic principles that all are one and governed by Providence, that happiness is within human control, and that true worth lies in living a virtuous life and benefitting others. The title Meditations was a later appellation. During the tenth century, it was called ta eis heauton, meaning ‘things to himself’ in Greek.

This study guide refers to the 2006 Penguin Classics edition translated by Martin Hammond. Meditations is divided into twelve books, which are subdivided by what are conventionally called chapters, though they may be no longer than a sentence or sentence fragment.

Summary

In Book 1, Marcus describes the virtues he has learned and gifts he has received from seventeen pivotal figures in his life, from family members and teachers to the gods.