Meditations

The Meditations are a collection of personal writings and spiritual reflections by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. His thoughts on how to lead a virtuous life, the importance of tranquillity and his ideas on how to reconcile the challenges of public and private life have become one of the world’s most important books. The core philosophy of Stoicism articulated here emphasises the need for inner peace and moral certainty in the face of the chaos and suffering encountered in life. As well as an intriguing philosophical text, the Meditations provide a fascinating insight into ancient Roman life.

Marcus Aurelius was Roman Emperor between 161 and 180AD. He was a leading practitioner of the Stoic philosophy. During his reign, he defeated the rise of the Parthian Empire in the east and put down rebellions by the Germanic tribes. His personal life was simple and contented after his marriage to the Emperor Hadrian’s daughter in 145AD, and he was able to devote much of his time to his scholarly work.