Meditations

“As emperor, I am important in Rome; as a man, I am equal to anyone else in the world.”

Meditations is the only work by Marcus Aurelius that has reached us. Composed of twelve books in the form of maxims, it presents reflections marked by Stoicism. Marcus Aurelius considered himself a citizen of the world—or rather, of the Universe. For him, equality and fraternity among men required constant attention to one’s social actions, never judging the gods or other human beings, and accepting events as the simple expression of the law of the Universe.

This work is the book of a man of action who seeks the serenity indispensable to effectiveness, but also of a man for whom human actions only possess a profound and lasting value if they fit within the perspective of the Whole of the Universe and the community of all. Far more than a compilation of philosophical thoughts, Meditations is a perfectly relevant guide to conduct, appealing us to reflect on how we can improve our way of life and our relationships with others.