Meditations

This is a sequence of private notes written in Greek by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius in the late second century, while on campaign and in the routine of rule. Addressed to himself, the entries urge attention to the present act, acceptance of what lies outside the will, and a view of human beings as parts of a single rational order. He reminds himself of death, of difficult colleagues, of the shortness of fame, and of the example of Antoninus. There is no continuous narrative and no formal treatise structure. The work is Stoic self-examination from inside imperial power, not a history of his wars on the Danube.

Quarter bound in dark brown buckram, cream paper boards with a design in dark brown. Dark brown slipcase.