Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Book Summary) My overall impression of this classic is that it is overrated. I think if you are reading Marcus Aurelius for the first time you should consider getting the best translation, which is by Maxwell Staniforth (1964) on Amazon here. At least I have some honorable company. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. "A man," he remarks, "is very devout to prevent the loss of his son. Put from you the belief that ‘I have been wronged’, and with it will go the feeling. The prose is rendered in modern American English – clearly delivered and designed to present Marcus Aurelius to a contemporary audience. It is important, I think, to know what you are getting when you get a copy of the Meditations for your study. (Hicks 2002). The Emperor’s Handbook: A New Translation of the Meditations – translated by C. Scot Hicks and David V. Hicks. It's a dog-eared, dirty little copy I picked up from Barnes & Noble a few years ago, and I've lent it out more than a few times. We all want to have an enjoyable reading of ancient philosophical texts, but there are many different translations that can vary in content and tone. Meditations: A New Translation by Aurelius, Marcus. Few ancient works have been as influential as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, philosopher and emperor of Rome (A.D. 161–180). If you’re reading Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations for the first time and you’re looking for a readable translation, Ryan Holiday recommends the Gregory Hays translation for its readability, and it is quite readable. However, what these skim readers would miss are the extensive notes that support much of the text and contribute to the book’s strength. Since then I've read the Hays translation which was even better, so give that one a go! Oxford World's Classics The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is one of the best-known and most popular works of ancient philosophy, offering spiritual reflections on how best to understand the universe and one's place within it. I love this book to pieces. There seems to be some stark differences between the two, which gets me to think: which translations (not limited to these) are in your opinion, the best ? Realize this, and you will find strength. This translation comes with a large opening section detailing Marcus Aurelius' life and the geopolitical and social factors surrounding the work, as well as the history we know of how the work survived and was transmitted. I've read several over the years, and find myself coming back to the Hays. Translation of: De rebus suis. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Book Summary) My overall impression of this classic is that it is overrated. Short sidebar quotes are included every two or three pages, which allows readers to skim through the book while still capturing the enduring wisdom it contains. I'm attaching what he says about it as an imgur image so people don't think I'm actually him posing as an anonymous person or trying to plug a friends site or something. The Meditations of the Emperor Marcus … I have the Maxwell Staniforth translation from Penguin Books. Meditations: with selected correspondence (Oxford World’s Classics) – translation by Robin Hard. The Emperor Marcus Antoninus His Conversation with Himself. Markou Antoninou tou Autokratoros to¯n eis heauton biblia 12 (1652). 40.) Meditations by Marcus Aurelius – To me, this is the greatest book ever written. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Meditations: Living, Dying and the Good Life by Marcus Aurelius, translated by Gregory Hays 191pp, Weidenfeld, £6.99. Its language resonates with me, and I find the end notes supremely helpful. INTRODUCTION. 9. I liked it. It is highly recommended you first read the Hays translation. That doesn’t mean he isn’t brilliant. The Roman philosophers are not as well known or as highly regarded as Greek … There seems to be some stark differences between the two, which gets me to think: which translations (not limited to these) are in your opinion, the best ? The Meditations By Marcus Aurelius Written 167 A.C.E. "Live each day as if it were your last." Image Credit amazon. This translation is my personal favorite. Well, the answer depends on your mindset towards this…, The way a Stoic grieves is vastly different from that of the average person, but there is a…, People who are not fully open to something new will tend to focus on reasons to avoid this…, When the Stoic philosopher Epictetus urged us to choose a role model to follow to germinate our philosophical…, Copyright © 2019 - 2020 RANC Group Pty Ltd. I'll have to look in to the Emperor's Handbook version. To be honest, it disappointed me. I can’t remember who initially led me towards Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, but ever since that first reference, I have stumble upon many, who recommended it. There are ample of best Marcus Aurelius book series available, which have gained a massive popularity amongst people for the ancient historical culture and civilization too. MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS was born on April 26, A.D. 121. There are many translations of the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Survey: Best Meditations by Marucs Aurelius Translation? To compare (4.7)... George Long... Take away your opinion, and then there is taken away the complaint, “I have been harmed.” Take away the complaint, “I have been harmed,” and the harm is taken away. A Latin translation of the Greek original of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations. MEDITATIONS OF MARCUS AURELIUS INTRODUCTION Marcus Aurelius' Meditations - tr. Translated by George Long. There's a blogger I regularly read that I truly respect who bases his life (or so he claims) on Meditations. In my opinion, Robin Hard’s translation offers us a more intimate and direct approach to Marcus Aurelius’ thoughts, while Hays’ (whose translation is still great without question) is more sympathetic towards readers. [Meditations. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If arguably one of the greatest men who ever lived struggled with these things.....then maybe I'm not as fucked up as I think. Written 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 … Paperback, 9780812968255, 0812968255 Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them. The Meditations By Marcus Aurelius Written 167 A.C.E. The introduction and notes by Christopher Gill place Meditations firmly in its ancient philosophical context. For example, here are two translations of 4.7: Choose not to be harmed—and you won't feel harmed. I can’t remember who initially led me towards Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, but ever since that first reference, I have stumble upon many, who recommended it. As with most books, I find being recommended, by several different people, I ended up buying it. Gregory Hays’ translation is often considered to be the best English translation. That indeed is the rule for all the devotions of that departing generation of wisdom. About Meditations. Translated by George Long. The Meditations has been divided into the following sections: Book One [28k] Book Two [24k] Book Three [28k] Book Four [39k] Book Five [38k] Book Six [40k] Book Seven [39k] Book Eight [40k] Book Nine [38k] posted by ac to Religion & Philosophy (4 answers total) 13 users marked this as a favorite Depends on what you want it for; as with many classical works, there's an essential tension between literalist translation and rendering of the style. Meditations (Medieval Greek: Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, romanized: Ta eis he'auton, lit. Enjoying a good book that has been translated means that you are actually enjoying a good translation, … Meditations is a series of personal thoughts and exercises from the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. The best Meditations translation is by Gregory Hays. Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, Marcus Aurelius's Meditations offers a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the emperor struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. He writes in modern plain English and understands how to make Marcus’s words concise and fluid. I think if you are reading Marcus Aurelius for the first time you should consider getting the best translation, which is by Maxwell Staniforth (1964) on Amazon here . I personally find that the language resonates with me, and I find the endnotes extremely helpful. We all want to have an enjoyable reading of ancient philosophical texts, but there are many different translations that can vary in content and tone. A selection of Marcus Aurelius’ correspondence with his tutor Fronto broadens our picture of the emperor as a person and thinker. ... Make sure you pick up the Gregory Hays translation from Modern Library. Don't feel harmed—and you haven't been. Marcus Aurelius Meditations A New Translation, with an Introduction, by Gregory Hays THE MODERN LIBRARY NEW YORK. ', 'Dwell on the beauty of life.