summary ofMeditationsBook by Marcus Aurelius

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Marcus Aurelius — a man whose wisdom never died

Meditations is an ever-unique collection of notes written by the Stoic Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius to himself. Meditations helped Marcus Aurelius, a trained Stoic, define a personal life philosophy and cultivate an exemplary character he himself could strive toward. Their purpose was also to reflect upon his responsibilities and obligations as the empire’s accomplished military leader. However, the insights in Meditations are so priceless and ageless that they have resonated with people from all walks of life for thousands of years.So, who was Marcus Aurelius? Born Marcus Annius Verus on April 26, A.D. 121, Marcus Aurelius served as the emperor of the Roman Empire from A.D. 161 to 180. It was the age of the Imperial Cult when Roman emperors were perceived as divinely sanctioned rulers with vast wealth and power.As a soldier, Marcus was both capable and successful; he embarked on several campaigns in the interests of his empire and people and was triumphant in almost all of them. In a similar vein, he was prudent and conscientious as an administrator.However, the emperor still faced domestic and personal troubles. His wife, Faustina, passed away early, and his children died one by one. By the end of Marcus' life, only one of his sons still lived — Commodus, who became emperor upon Marcus’ death and ruined his father's life legacy during his short reign.

Yet Marcus's humility and objectivity remained unwavering through all his numerous afflictions. And during those years of trouble, Marcus Aurelius wrote twelve books in his journal “Meditations,” which have become one of history's most practical and influential philosophy books. Stay tuned to dive deeper into the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius’ philosophy and discover how the lessons learned many centuries ago can be relevant even in the 21st century!