Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (121–180 AD) was the model of what we call a philosopher-king. Though his rule was troubled by war and conflict, he remained a thoughtful and even-handed ruler. Meditations isn’t a complete book, but rather a collection of his personal diary entries written over a ten-year campaign in Greece.
The entries were never meant to be published; instead, they were a reminder to himself of how to remain calm, tranquil, and kind, even in the worst of situations.
In them we see the emperor working out how to deal with the everyday problems all of us face: annoying coworkers, difficult family members, the expectations of others, unrealized goals and achievements, and, ultimately, happiness. In essense this is a handbook of thoughtful advice on how to live a tranquil, satisfied, and productive life. This translation was done by a renowned English scholar George Long in 1862.
