The Meditations by Sam Torode
How to think clearly, act purposefully, overcome obstacles, and find peace & happiness along the way. Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE) was one of the few true philosopher-kings in history. His father died when Marcus was three. At age fifteen, he was adopted by his aunt's husband, the future Emperor Antoninus Pius, putting him in the line of succession. At forty, he became a reluctant emperor of the Roman Empire. Marcus was conflicted because the demands of being emperor--on top of the temptations of wealth and power--seemed incompatible with his true ambition: to be a humble student of philosophy. Over time, though, he worked out a practical philosophy that kept him grounded amidst the stresses and excesses of palace life. That's why his philosophy is so relevant to us today, in the modern world. How did he fare as emperor? During his twenty years of service, Marcus earned the love of the people and the loyalty of the senate. Later historians called him the last of the five good emperors. In spare moments, Marcus wrote the journal entries collected in The Meditations. They were not intended for publication, but to remind Marcus himself of his principles and priorities. As a result, they are intimate, direct, and extremely useful. This new edition of The Meditations is an interpretive paraphrase in contemporary English, with a foreword, by bestselling author Sam Torode. A companion volume, The Manual: A Philosopher's Guide to Life, is also available from Ancient Renewal. The Kindle e-book is FREE with purchase of the paperback, through Amazon Matchbook.
MARCUS AURELIUS was born Marcus Annius Verus in Rome in 121 CE, and assumed the name of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus on his adoption by the emperor Antoninus Pius, whom he succeeded in 161. Following his accession, M. Aurelius conferred half-rule of the empire upon his adoptive younger brother and fellow consul, L. Aurelius Verus, thus establishing the first collegiate principate. M. Aurelius ruled jointly with Verus until the latter's death in 169. M. Aurelius was educated by Marcus Cornelius Fronto, the most acclaimed orator of his day, but abandoned rhetoric for Stoic philosophy. Carrying out the Stoic prin-ciples of moderation and virtuous conduct based on right reason, M. Aurelius ruled with an eye to the good of his subjects. But while justice prevailed at home, the borders of the empire lay under constant siege by barbarian hordes. Therefore, this most pacific and contemplative of emperors was forced to spend much of the latter part of his reign in the field, where he composed his Meditations.
Given that he was put under the pressure of incessant warfare, it is easy to see why M. Aurelius should have taken refuge in Stoic philosophy. The Stoics taught that the chief end of man is happiness, and is achieved by living in harmony with nature; the highest good lies in virtue, which is to live in harmony with reason. Part of right reason is knowing how to accept what we cannot change, and to ride out, as it were, the vicissitudes of fortune. It is the mark of a wise man to retain his composure through adversity, regarding it as a thing external and therefore indifferent. Written not as a continuous philosophical tract but as a series of daily thoughts, the Meditations nonetheless are the most important expression of late Stoicism. Simple in style and sincere in tone, they speak eloquently on life, death, and duty; taken together, they faithfully record the mind and character of a man for whom philosophy was not merely an academic pursuit of abstract truths but a true design for living. Marcus Aurelius died in his camp on the Danube on March 17, 180, the nineteenth year of his reign.
Given that he was put under the pressure of incessant warfare, it is easy to see why M. Aurelius should have taken refuge in Stoic philosophy. The Stoics taught that the chief end of man is happiness, and is achieved by living in harmony with nature; the highest good lies in virtue, which is to live in harmony with reason. Part of right reason is knowing how to accept what we cannot change, and to ride out, as it were, the vicissitudes of fortune. It is the mark of a wise man to retain his composure through adversity, regarding it as a thing external and therefore indifferent. Written not as a continuous philosophical tract but as a series of daily thoughts, the Meditations nonetheless are the most important expression of late Stoicism. Simple in style and sincere in tone, they speak eloquently on life, death, and duty; taken together, they faithfully record the mind and character of a man for whom philosophy was not merely an academic pursuit of abstract truths but a true design for living. Marcus Aurelius died in his camp on the Danube on March 17, 180, the nineteenth year of his reign.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781548281304 |
| ISBN 10 | 1548281301 |
| Title | The Meditations |
| Author | Sam Torode |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Createspace Independent Publishing Platform |
| Year published | 2017-07-14 |
| Number of pages | 114 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |