{"product_id":"meditations-isbn-9780140449334","title":"Meditations","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003eA clear and eloquent leading translation of the Roman emperor’s reflections of human life and death, timeless Stoic philosophy that inspires countless others including \u003ci\u003eThe Daily Stoic\u003c\/i\u003e author Ryan Holiday to use philosophy as a tool for self-improvement and resilience to live a better life\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eWritten in Greek by an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius  offer a wide range of fascinating spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cover such diverse topics as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods and the values of leadership. But while the Meditations were composed to provide personal consolation, in developing his beliefs Marcus also created one of the greatest of all works of philosophy: a series of wise and practical aphorisms that have been consulted and admired by statesmen, thinkers and ordinary readers for almost two thousand years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo provide a full understanding of Aurelius's seminal work, this edition includes explanatory notes, a general index, an index of quotations, an index of names, and an introduction by Diskin Clay putting the work in its biographical, historical, and literary context, a chronology of Marcus Aurelius's life and career.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePenguin Classics is the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world, representing a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.“Here, for our age, is [Marcus’s] great work presented in its entirety, strongly  introduced and freshly, elegantly translated.” —Robert Fagles\u003cb\u003eMarcus Aelius Aurelius Antoninus\u003c\/b\u003e (121-180 CE) was adopted by the emperor Antoninus Pius and succeeded him in 161, (as joint emperor with adoptive brother Lucius Verus). The last of the so-called Five Good Emperors, he ruled alone from 169.  Presiding over a changing Rome, he spent much of his reign in putting down variou rebellions. Today, he is best-know for his Meditations, a series of reflections, strongly influenced by Epictetus, which cemented his place as one of the greatest Stoic Philosophers. He died in 180 and was succeed by his natural son, thus ending the period of the adoptive emperors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDiskin Clay\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies at Duke University and has published widely in the area of Ancient Greek Philosophy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMartin Hammond \u003c\/b\u003ewas Head Master of Tonbridge School and has translated many works of classic literature, including Homer's Iliad for Penguin Classics.\u003cb\u003eBook 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Debts and Lessons\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 1. My grandfather Verus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Character and self-control.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 2. My father (from my own memories and\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e his reputation)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Integrity and manliness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 3. My mother\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Her reverence for the divine, her generosity, her inability not only  to do wrong but even to conceive of doing it. And the simple way she lived-not in  the least like the rich.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 4. My great-grandfather\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To avoid the public schools, to  hire good private teachers, and to accept the resulting costs as money well-spent.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 5. My first teacher\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to support this side or that in chariot-racing, this fighter  or that in the games. To put up with discomfort and not make demands. To do my own  work, mind my own business, and have no time for slanderers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 6. Diognetus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to  waste time on nonsense. Not to be taken in by conjurors and hoodoo artists with their  talk about incantations and exorcism and all the rest of it. Not to be obsessed with  quail-fighting or other crazes like that. To hear unwelcome truths. To practice philosophy,  and to study with Baccheius, and then with Tandasis and Marcianus. To write dialogues  as a student. To choose the Greek lifestyle-the camp-bed and the cloak.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 7. Rusticus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The recognition that I needed to train and discipline my character.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to be sidetracked  by my interest in rhetoric. Not to write treatises on abstract questions, or deliver  moralizing little sermons, or compose imaginary descriptions of The Simple Life or  The Man Who Lives Only for Others. To steer clear of oratory, poetry and belles lettres.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to dress up just to stroll around the house, or things like that. To write straightforward  letters (like the one he sent my mother from Sinuessa). And to behave in a conciliatory  way when people who have angered or annoyed us want to make up.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To read attentively-not  to be satisfied with \"just getting the gist of it.\" And not to fall for every smooth  talker.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And for introducing me to Epictetus's lectures-and loaning me his own copy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 8. Apollonius\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Independence and unvarying reliability, and to pay attention to nothing,  no matter how fleetingly, except the logos. And to be the same in all circumstances-intense  pain, the loss of a child, chronic illness. And to see clearly, from his example,  that a man can show both strength and flexibility.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His patience in teaching. And  to have seen someone who clearly viewed his expertise and ability as a teacher as  the humblest of virtues.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And to have learned how to accept favors from friends without  losing your self-respect or appearing ungrateful.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 9. Sextus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Kindness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e An example  of fatherly authority in the home. What it means to live as nature requires.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Gravity  without airs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To show intuitive sympathy for friends, tolerance to amateurs and  sloppy thinkers. His ability to get along with everyone: sharing his company was  the highest of compliments, and the opportunity an honor for those around him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To  investigate and analyze, with understanding and logic, the principles we ought to  live by.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to display anger or other emotions. To be free of passion and yet full  of love.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To praise without bombast; to display expertise without pretension.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 10.  The literary critic Alexander\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to be constantly correcting people, and in particular  not to jump on them whenever they make an error of usage or a grammatical mistake  or mispronounce something, but just answer their question or add another example,  or debate the issue itself (not their phrasing), or make some other contribution  to the discussion-and casually insert the correct expression.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 11. Fronto\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To recognize  the malice, cunning and hypocrisy that power produces, and the peculiar ruthlessness  often shown by people from \"good families.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 12. Alexander the Platonist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to  be constantly telling people (or writing them) that I'm too busy, unless I really  am. Similarly, not to be always ducking my responsibilities to the people around  me because of \"pressing business.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 13. Catulus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not to shrug off a friend's resentment-even  unjustified resentment-but try to put things right.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To show your teachers ungrudging  respect (the Domitius and Athenodotus story), and your children unfeigned love.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 14. [My brother] Severus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To love my family, truth and justice. It was through him  that I encountered Thrasea, Helvidius, Cato, Dion and Brutus, and conceived of a  society of equal laws, governed by equality of status and of speech, and of rulers  who respect the liberty of their subjects above all else.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And from him as well,  to be steady and consistent in valuing philosophy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And to help others and be eager  to share, not to be a pessimist, and never to doubt your friends' affection for you.  And that when people incurred his disapproval, they always knew it. And that his  friends never had to speculate about his attitude to anything: it was always clear.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 15. Maximus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Self-control and resistance to distractions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Optimism in adversity-especially  illness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A personality in balance: dignity and grace together.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Doing your job without  whining.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Other people's certainty that what he said was what he thought, and what  he did was done without malice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Never taken aback or apprehensive. Neither rash  nor hesitant-or bewildered, or at a loss. Not obsequious-but not aggressive or paranoid  either.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Generosity, charity, honesty.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The sense he gave of staying on the path  rather than being kept on it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That no one could ever have felt patronized by him-or  in a position to patronize him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A sense of humor.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 16. My adopted father\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Compassion.  Unwavering adherence to decisions, once he'd reached them. Indifference to superficial  honors. Hard work. Persistence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Listening to anyone who could contribute to the  public good.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His dogged determination to treat people as they deserved.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A sense  of when to push and when to back off.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Putting a stop to the pursuit of boys.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His  altruism. Not expecting his friends to keep him entertained at dinner or to travel  with him (unless they wanted to). And anyone who had to stay behind to take care  of something always found him the same when he returned.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His searching questions  at meetings. A kind of single-mindedness, almost, never content with first impressions,  or breaking off the discussion prematurely.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His constancy to friends-never getting  fed up with them, or playing favorites.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Self-reliance, always. And cheerfulness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And his advance planning (well in advance) and his discreet attention to even minor  things.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His restrictions on acclamations-and all attempts to flatter him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His constant  devotion to the empire's needs. His stewardship of the treasury. His willingness  to take responsibility-and blame-for both.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His attitude to the gods: no superstitiousness.  And his attitude to men: no demagoguery, no currying favor, no pandering. Always  sober, always steady, and never vulgar or a prey to fads.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The way he handled the  material comforts that fortune had supplied him in such abundance-without arrogance  and without apology. If they were there, he took advantage of them. If not, he didn't  miss them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e No one ever called him glib, or shameless, or pedantic. They saw him  for what he was: a man tested by life, accomplished, unswayed by flattery, qualified  to govern both himself and them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His respect for people who practiced philosophy-at  least, those who were sincere about it. But without denigrating the others-or listening  to them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His ability to feel at ease with people-and put them at their ease, without  being pushy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e His willingness to take adequate care of himself. Not a hypochondriac  or obsessed with his appearance, but not ignoring things either. With the result  that he hardly ever needed medical attention, or drugs or any sort of salve or ointment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This, in particular: his willingness to yield the floor to experts-in oratory, law,  psychology, whatever-and to support them energetically, so that each of them could  fulfil his potential.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That he respected tradition without needing to constantly  congratulate himself for Safeguarding Our Traditional Values.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Not prone to go off  on tangents, or pulled in all directions, but sticking with the same old places and  the same old things.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The way he could have one of his migraines and then go right  back to what he was doing-fresh and at the top of his game.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That he had so few secrets-only  state secrets, in fact, and not all that many of those.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The way he kept public actions  within reasonable bounds-games, building projects, distributions of money and so  on-because he looked to what needed doing and not the credit to be gained from doing  it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e No bathing at strange hours, no self-indulgent building projects, no concern  for food, or the cut and color of his clothes, or having attractive slaves. (The  robe from his farm at Lorium, most of the things at Lanuvium, the way he accepted  the customs agent's apology at Tusculum, etc.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He never exhibited rudeness, lost  control of himself, or turned violent. No one ever saw him sweat. Everything was  to be approached logically and with due consideration, in a calm and orderly fashion  but decisively, and with no loose ends.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You could have said of him (as they say  of Socrates) that he knew how to enjoy and abstain from things that most people find  it hard to abstain from and all too easy to enjoy. Strength, perseverance, self-control  in both areas: the mark of a soul in readiness-indomitable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e (Maximus's illness.)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 17. The Gods\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I had good grandparents, a good mother and father, a good sister,  good teachers, good servants, relatives, friends-almost without exception. And that  I never lost control of myself with any of them, although I had it in me to do that,  and I might have, easily. But thanks to the gods, I was never put in that position,  and so escaped the test.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I wasn't raised by my grandfather's girlfriend for  longer than I was. That I didn't lose my virginity too early, and didn't enter adulthood  until it was time-put it off, even.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I had someone-as a ruler and as a father-who  could keep me from being arrogant and make me realize that even at court you can  live without a troop of bodyguards, and gorgeous clothes, lamps, sculpture-the whole  charade. That you can behave almost like an ordinary person without seeming slovenly  or careless as a ruler or when carrying out official obligations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I had the  kind of brother I did. One whose character challenged me to improve my own. One whose  love and affection enriched my life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That my children weren't born stupid or physically  deformed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I wasn't more talented in rhetoric or poetry, or other areas. If  I'd felt that I was making better progress I might never have given them up.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That  I conferred on the people who brought me up the honors they seemed to want early  on, instead of putting them off (since they were still young) with the hope that  I'd do it later.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I knew Apollonius, and Rusticus, and Maximus.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I saw  was shown clearly and often what it would be like to live as nature requires. The  gods did all they could-through their gifts, their help, their inspiration-to ensure  that I could live as nature demands. And if I've failed, it's no one's fault but  mine. Because I didn't pay attention to what they told me-to what they taught me,  practically, step by step.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That my body has held out, especially considering the  life I've led.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I never laid a finger on Benedicta or on Theodotus. And that  even later, when I was overcome by passion, I recovered from it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That even though  I was often upset with Rusticus I never did anything I would have regretted later.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That even though she died young, at least my mother spent her last years with me.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That whenever I felt like helping someone who was short of money, or otherwise in  need, I never had to be told that I had no resources to do it with. And that I was  never put in that position myself-of having to take something from someone else.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That I have the wife I do: obedient, loving, humble.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That children had competent  teachers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Remedies granted through dreams-when I was coughing blood, for instance,  and having fits of dizziness. And the one at Caieta.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That when I became interested  in philosophy I didn't fall into the hands of charlatans, and didn't get bogged down  in writing treatises, or become absorbed by logic-chopping, or preoccupied with physics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e All things for which \"we need the help of fortune and the gods.\"","brand":"Penguin Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304938721509,"sku":"NP9780140449334","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780140449334.jpg?v=1767732507","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/meditations-isbn-9780140449334","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}