Time and technology may change but the human condition remains the same – why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? Marcus Aurelius and other stoics set out long ago to answer these questions and their writings and teachings have stood the test of time.
Written nearly two millenia ago while he was on military campaign defending Roman borders from barbarian tribes and other incursions between 170 to 180 AD, the stoic philosophy of Marcus Aurelius reaches out across the ages, resounding with truth and meaning for anyone who seeks profound connection and a life of purpose.
An antidote to chaos today as it was then.
Marcus Aurelius’ teachings can empower you to tap into your inner strength and live a more fulfilling life. By reading or listening to the Meditations you will discover why his thoughts have inspired thinkers, philosophers, statesmen, soldiers, entrepreneurs, poets and people from all walks of life since antiquity.
Gain insight and inspiration from Marcus Aurelius quotes like this:
“From Apollonius, I learned the importance of free will and unwavering determination. I learned to focus only on logic, and constancy even in sharp pain such as after losing a child, or during a long illness. He showed me that a person can be both resolute and yielding.”
Or how about; “”Begin the morning by reminding yourself that you will meet annoying, ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, and unfriendly people. They act this way because they do not understand what is good and bad. But I know that good is beautiful and bad is ugly. And those who do wrong are still like me, they share the same intelligence and divinity. They cannot truly harm me or diminish that which is good within me.”
A favorite stoic quote? “Nowhere else can you find more peace and freedom than within your own soul.” (The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, 121-180 AD)
In our rapidly changing modern world, the timeless wisdom of stoic philosophy has re-emerged as an invaluable guide to build unshakable resolve and resilience in the face of fate.
Do yourself a good deed. Soothe and strengthen your soul with stoic philosophy that has endured through the ages.
Targeted Age Group:: 18+
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Salve! (as the Romans would say) As a classicist who does not care for a stuffy office – I prefer going for long rucks in the Canadian wild – I believe anyone can discover their inner hero in pursuit of what Aristotle called ‘eudaimonia,’ or flourishing. I’ve made it my mission to narrate ancient texts for modern readers and listeners to help people connect to their rich historical heritage.
The ancients were superbly alive. We think of ancient history in terms of ruins and lifeless white statues denuded of their brightly painted finishes. But in ancient Rome, ideas and politics were exchanged in public spaces teeming with life. People discussed business deals while sitting beside each other in communal toilets, called 'foricae' in those days.
Philosophy, now seen as a dry, academic subject, was born in the vibrant cornucopia of the streets and markets of ancient Rome, with topics subject to brilliant rhetoric and passionate speeches. So, I like to bring the ancestors on whose shoulders we stand today, alive to modern eyes through telling stories in ancient coins and adapting ancient writing to modern linguistics. Ancient coins illustrate what life was like at the time of the Roman empire, because everyone knows what it is to work for their daily bread. You will be surprised how much you have in common with your ancient forbears when it comes to worrying about rent and groceries. We also still use symbols and words that connect us to thousands of years of history, like the word money, originating from Moneta, the goddess of funds in antiquity and the word 'philosophia' …. which means love of wisdom:)
It’s as if we were meant to follow the threads of old stories so embedded in our collective mythology and history as to be inscribed in our very genes. The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius are the remarkable because through them you are literally sharing in the thoughts of a man (who just happened to be a Roman emperor) in some of the darkest days of his life, defending the epicenter of Western Civilization nearly 2000 years ago. Especially because he talks about many characters, like Epictetus and Socrates, long dead to us, but alive to him. I created an index of all these characters in my modern adaptation of his stoic philosophy, so by reading his reflections you can acquaint yourself with the great thinkers and Greek and Roman history in a very natural way that connects you to your historical legacy.
Thank you for taking the time to consider reading, or listening, to my translation of this great ancient work. I sincerely hope the reflections of Marcus Aurelius will be an inspiring experience. My best wishes to you.
Andrew Weston.
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