Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library 58)

Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor, marks the high point of pagan thought in the late Roman empire. This Loeb edition collects all of his (then) known works, principally in Greek but also in Latin, and provides an edition of the text with footnotes, facing (as the Loeb always does) a modernish English translation. Like much of Loeb, this volume is now quite elderly, though, with a static corpus and a relatively uncontroversial text, it does not particularly show its age except in the grammar of the English text. The translation was entirely new for this edition. However, it is written in archaising English with 'thee' and 'thou' to distinguish Greek and Latin second person singular from plural. Back at the end of the 19th century, this was still relatively common practice, although, except in dialects and poetry, these words had fallen out of common use a couple of hundred years before. To 21st century readers, it initially comes across as rather distant. However, after a few pages of reading, this fades from the mind. It's probably worth admitting that one would not read Marcus Aurelius now as self-help—though, in effect, that is what this book principally is, giving screeds of wise advice. However, as a window into the mind of a pagan stoic, this is incomparable. What is fascinating to modern readers is the way Marcus Aurelius weaves what would now be considered to be secular ethics in with ideas of what the gods require, and what they are likely to do. On the one hand this is the writings of a sensible man who expects relatively little from the gods, and uses them in many senses as metaphysical hypotheticals—"if the gods… either they will… or they will…" On the other, he is also writing as an emperor who accepts the notion that his predecessors are divine, and, one would imagine, expects to be accorded the same divinity later. What it reveals to us is therefore an extraordinary insight into a religious viewpoint which is utterly foreign to the Abrahamic tradition: an impersonal faith, where the gods can be invoked as proxies in discussions of ethics, but where action is thoroughly in the human sphere.

very good quality

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caesar; a name that could cause traffic jams. However, we are talking about a great man who recorded for posterity his inner most thoughts and his weaknesses. His legacy is his self doubt, self analysis and his belief in the enduring good of Mankind. Humble and realistic, this man was Emperor of Rome, take note Bush and Blair. I salute him.

Great classic with an excellent translation. Not a 'light' read but if your interested in ancient history and the characters that formed it you can't go wrong starting with Marcus Aurelius!

This book is much hyped. It's rather banal and boring.

Since there are so many of these darn things the review shall be divided into three sections. First, a brief description of the Loeb series of books and their advantages/disadvantages. Second shall be my thoughts on the author himself, his accuracy, as well as his style and the style of his translator. This is of course only my opinion and should be treated as such. The final part shall review what this particular book actually covers. The Loeb series date back to the turn of the last century. They are designed for people with at least some knowledge of Greek or Latin. They are a sort of compromise between a straight English translation and an annotated copy of the original text. On the left page is printed the text in Greek or Latin depending on the language of the writer and on the right side is the text in English. For somebody who knows even a little Greek or Latin these texts are invaluable. You can try to read the text in the original language knowing that you can correct yourself by looking on the next page or you can read the text in translation and check the translation with the original for more detail. While some of the translations are excellent mostly they are merely serviceable since they are designed more as an aid to translation rather than a translation in themselves. Most of them follow the Greek or Latin very closely. These books are also very small, maybe just over a quarter the size of your average hardcover book. This means that you'll need to buy more than just one book to read a complete work. They are also somewhat pricey considering their size. The Loeb Collection is very large but most of the more famous works can be found in better (and cheaper) translations elsewhere. If you want to read a rarer book or read one in the original language then you can't do better than the Loeb Editions. Marcus Aurelius was the emperor of Rome in the second century AD. He was the last of the five "good" emperors and was succeeded by his mad son Commodus. If you've seen Gladiator you know who these people are. No, nothing in that movie was true. Marcus fancied himself something of a philosopher and followed the creed of stoicism. He spent most of his reign at war in Germania. His reign also saw a great plague sweep across the Roman Empire. He also seems (at least to me) to be a dull and lifeless fellow who puts more of his soul into philosophy and leaves none for earthly things. Anyway, Marcus wrote some philosophical thoughts on his life and rule. This is them. This work is famous and useful in that it reveals the inner thoughts of a Roman Emperor. The only comparable documents are the writings of Julian ( Volume I , Volume II , Volume III ) who also considered himself a philosopher. Claudius also wrote a number of works, and Hadrian and a few other emperors actually wrote autobiographies but they haven't survived. Augustus had one engraved on tombs all over the empire but it was very brief. This edition is not the best translation. As some reviewers have commented the language is extremely outdated and archaic. I understand that he's trying to convey the way in which Aurelius wrote in pseudo-Athenian Greek but I feel that doing so by adding archaisms in English just adds a new level of distortion between the original and the translation. If I've given this book a low rating it is because I'm not fond of the book and I dislike the translation. I understand that it's a useful work but I just can't bring myself to like it.

I bought this for my boyfriends bday but got them damaged I bought three books all managed to be damaged not impressed

As described.

I have read several translations of this work and have found the C.R. Haines version to be the best in terms of clarity and annotation. The format is also excellent, measuring just 4 ' by 6 ' inches, making it easy to keep in your pocket for daily reading. "...when philosophers are kings and kings are philosophers..." Plato If you ever hear someone turn the phrase, "when philosophers are kings," remember this; they already were and, that's right, you missed it. You missed it by about 1,820 years, give or take a few. After some 25 or more years of training, a man born Marcus Annius Verus ascended to the Imperial throne of the Roman Empire and is known to history as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus or just Marcus Aurelius. Probably the best qualified ruler the world has known, Marcus Aurelius was a man and a ruler to whom historians most frequently point as someone who always placed the welfare of the people above all else. Marcus Aurelius, the last in a series of philosopher emperors, spent most of the last thirteen years of his life in the damp and gloomy forests along the Danube. Beset by treason, incompetence and corruption he waged relentless war on the first few of uncounted waves of barbarian invaders who would ultimately destroy the Romans so thoroughly that not even their language would survive. During this time he kept a diary of sorts. I use the word diary in the sense that Marcus wrote this book for himself alone, with no care whether any other should ever read it. He called his little book "To Himself." What Marcus ultimately produced is a sometimes scattered yet concise handbook on how to live contented under any circumstances. It is here for us to inspect, to read and learn the inner thoughts of one of the greatest philosophers and humanitarian leaders in the history of the West. There is to be found, if we are but willing to read, a definite system for controlling our thoughts and therefore our lives and our happiness. This "handbook" on how to be the source of your own happiness, commonly known as The Meditations, teaches a system of thought that, with a bit of practice, will show that you really are the only possible source of you own happiness - a source without limits and without end. This way of seeing the world also has side effects which are; greater participation in life, less frustration and little if any anxiety, anger or depression. (2007) I must add: the new translation - "The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations" by the Hicks brothers is a superb contemporary English version. There have been other attempts but they don't even come close to the work of David and C. Scot Hicks. Look it up.

As always the Loeb has the original text, in this case koine Greek on the verso and the English translation on the front page. The translation is a little formal, even crisp, but this was the private notes of the man who would be Emperor. But what private notes they are. Reflections on how he achieved, improvements, how to evaluate talent both within and without. Progress and how to discern it and how to cultivate it. He pulls no punches here.

One of my favorite editions. Like the comforting words of a true friend. Marcus Aurelius should not be missed in this life....if just this one book.