Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Gregory Hays

by Marcus Aurelius, Gregory Hays

Genres: Philosophy, History, Nonfiction, Biography, Spirituality, Classics, Self Help

Paperback

Published June 22, 2022

About the author

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (often referred to as "the wise") was Emperor of the Roman Empire from 161 to his death in 180. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the more important Stoic philosophers. His two decades as emperor were marked by near continual warfare. He was faced with a series of invasions from German tribes, and by conflicts with the Parthian Empire in the east. His reign also had to deal with an internal revolt in the east, led by Avidius Cassius.

Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations, written in Greek while on campaign between 170 and 180, is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty and has been praised for its "exquisite accent and its infinite tenderness."

Reviews

[Chris Osantowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

2nd century Jordan Peterson

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating goes to the translator who gives great context/history for the philosophies/time period discuss in aurelius’s journals. Not rating the “meditations” itself because it’s that man’s personal journals and there’s any number of things that can be learned and reflected upon from the contents

[Jenna Dimitrakas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! It’s incredible to me how Marcus Aurelius, the most powerful man in the world 2000 years ago, grappled with the same issues that everyday people face today. It’s definitely a book to keep coming back to.

I also enjoyed that it was a journal of his musings because it felt like an insight into his mind as opposed to him intentionally propagating an idea to the public.

I had a couple of small issues - like his view of his wife’s obedience as a virtue and his seeming acceptance of slavery - but I understand that these are a reflection of the time and I enjoyed the book regardless

[David Allgood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would give it 4.5 stars. I am amazed at how this is his personal journal and something that he did not intend, and maybe even didn’t want to be published. I also will probably have to reread a different translation of this book at some point since I think that could change a lot of the messages and thoughts Marcus has. Overall it is a great book on maintaining an inner calm, but also much more than just controlling what you can control.

[Brendan Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thought-provoking read. It is wild how timeless much of the sentiments are despite being written nearly 2,000 years ago. One of my favorite Meditations is: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way” (5:20). Or, the obstacle becomes the way!

Marcus reiterates the ideals of an upright, honest, and humble life. A lot of emphasis is placed on mind control and disregarding negativity.

A small critique: Hays wrote a 55-page introduction. I found this irritating. A short introduction is fine and helpful, but we’re here for Meditations by Aurelius, not historical musings by Hays. I’d recommend shortening this to no more than 10 pages.

Overall, Meditations provides timeless advice and a lot of takes on death; how to accept it, how to leverage it, and its prevalence. A fine read for anyone who likes philosophy or history.

[Parker M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone should have this one on their book shelf. This will be a book I pick up every year or two from now on.

The fact that this is not a published book and is Marcus’ personal journal is pretty fascinating. There’s a reason people study him 1,800 years later.

“Don’t go on discussing what a good person should be. Just be one.”

[Isabella :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book substituted my lack of therapy. over and over again saying accept death at all costs. all earthly dialogue is trivial, except for doing good, and honoring nature.

however, this was written by a roman emperor. and nature to him is hierarchy, so this book reinforces hierarchy 👎🏻

overall, glad i read this right now. and was thought provoking.

[Zihan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeh.

[IGL00 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent translation, very accessible and with thorough endnotes.

And there was so much wisdom in Marcus Aurelius. I think one of my main takeaways will be his oft-repeated point that we should not attribute other’s actions we perceive as “bad” to malice, but rather to an incorrect perception of good and evil. Many saints have recommended the same habit.

[Nexus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meditations has no singular moral or point to it, it is a collection of the thoughts of one of Rome's greatest emperors. It is a look at the thought process of a man so distant from us reading that it should be unrecognisable, yet it is so similar. He scolds himself for being stupid, for getting angry at people, such small things for a Roman emperor to obsess over. Yet he does, when you remember that each one of these thoughts might have been prompted by something he experienced, the constant repetition of points becomes understandable. Each time he gets angry at an annoying person, he writes down why he should not be angry and he move on. We are lucky he referred to himself in the 2nd person instead of the 1st, as the reader can very easily imagine "you" as themselves. The first book alone is a standalone in which he lists the debts and thanks he has to give to people in his life, an exercise all of us could benefit from partaking in. His Stoic philosophy is an appealing one, while I don't believe I am yet willing to accept such a deterministic worldview as the 'logos', the virtues and logic put forward are attractive nonetheless. The simple idea that your mind cannot be harmed by external factors paired with Socrates' idea of justice and virtue, are enough to live a virtuous life. The value of Meditations is completely dependant on what the reader pulls from it and applies to their own life, and I pulled quite a lot.

[Derek Boyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read. Firstly I was amazed by how timeless it was. This could have been written by someone living today, but the fact that it was written almost 2000 years ago, reveals how very little human beings have changed.

Today, we arrogantly and ignorantly assume that our scientific progress over the last few centuries and our technological achievements in the last century have made us wiser, kinder, more intelligent, more capable human beings than those from the past. Well, Meditations completely obliterates that fallacy.

Marcus' writings prove time and time again that despite 'progress' each new generation continues to be troubled by the same deep human questions, continue to realise our limitations to knowledge and that attempts to avoid mortality, pain and suffering is futile.

In fact you could argue that modern society has regressed from those living 2000 years ago. Our increasing reliance and belief in Science has distracted us from much needed philosophical thought and understanding required for a meaningful and fulfilled existence, contributing to societal decay and (if we continue like this) the eventual collapse of civilisation.

However what really resonated for me was that like myself, Marcus was clearly struggling to overcome a fear of mortality (not a fear of dying, but a fear of one-day no longer existing). I found his philosophy extremely therapeutic, alleviating much of my own dread, and giving me an unexpected, but on reflection seemingly obvious, solution - a way of thinking that makes such fear irrelevant.

For those external obstacles in life that you can't control (like death), you can instead choose to change the way you think about them, so that YOU no longer see them as obstacles but instead accept them for what they are - the inevitable and natural way your life must unfold. Here's a great example:

"You've lived as a citizen in a great city. Five years or a hundred-what's the difference? The laws make no distinction. And to be sent away from it, not by a tyrant or a dishonest judge, but by Nature, who first invited you in-why is that so terrible? Like the impresario ringing down the curtain on an actor: "But I've only gotten through three acts...!"
Yes. This will be a drama in three acts, the length fixed by the power that directed your creation, and now directs your dissolution. Neither was yours to determine. So make your exit with grace-the same grace shown to you."

It's a beautiful book that I recommend everyone should read and contemplate.

[Itamar Junior · Rating 5 out of 5]

The translation that doesn't make me give up after 3 pages.

[Roman Kelly]

Meditation a honest review

Marcus Aurelius had a very complicated life and was a very important person. He was a Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a one-of-a-kind philosopher. He was the last of the rulers of the Five Good Emperors. Marcus Aurelius was also the last emperor of the Pax Romana, the Pax Romana was an age of peace and safety for the Romans which was from 27 BC to 180 AD. He didn't write about his experience of his life in Meditations he actually wrote about his morals and his perspective on how to live a fulfilling and productive life. Meditations was recorded by Marcus Aurelius in his private journal from AD 161 to 180 and was translated by Gregory Hays and published on the VIth of May in MMIII (2003). Gregory Hays is a professor of classics at the University of Konstanz in Germany and studies Greek and Latin palaeography and manuscript.

Meditations isn’t your typical nonfiction book; it's the thoughts and beliefs of Marcus Aurelius on how to live. There isn’t a plot, but there is a very strong theme and that theme is split into V main themes into XII books or chapters. Those V themes are change, death, and the shortness of life; the role and importance of the reasonable mind and will; coping with others and accepting their shortcomings; avoiding the need for pleasure and fame while understanding that you are a short speck in the universe and you don’t entirely matter by yourself like everything else; and living according to nature and fully accepting its plan for you in life. Meditations unlike most fiction books there is no plot, only Marcus Aurelius and you.
I would recommend this book to anyone in their late teens or older. If you're a young reader, then I suggest you wait until you are in your late teens and then read it because the book is written in an informal style of bullet points. The book is about his broken-up thoughts on how to live and the purpose of people. That's why there is so much in those bullet points and it will be hard to understand some of the more complicated and in-depth quotes. I haven’t grasped it entirely and will reread it several times to understand most of its content. I am adapting to the morals from the book every day. Many quotes have such a great impact on your life that if you read it too early you may not be able to take those quotes to heart. He talks about what to do when you won't get out of bed. “At dawn, when you are having trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work —as a human being.’ What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under blankets and stay warm.
-But it’s nicer here….
So you were born to feel ‘nice’? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants and birds doing their individual task as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being?
-But we have to sleep sometimes….
Agreed, but nature set a limit on that like drinking and eating and you’re over the limit” (53). There is so much meaning in those pages to extrapolate that if you read it when you’re younger then you will not get the full cognizance of it compared to when you're an adult. I would give this book a definite V out of V because of the life lessons that it has shown me.

Marcus Aurelius is very straightforward in the small note sections and gets straight to the point, but over the books, he repeats the point over and over in his parables to get the importance of the point across so that you can fully understand the meaning of what he is saying. Marcus Aurelius may seem very harsh, but he isn’t really. He is describing things as they are and how to deal with them if it's possible or not. “Everything that happens is either endurable or not. If it’s endurable, then endure it. Stop complaining. If it's unendurable… then stop complaining. Your destruction will mean its end as well” (132). He is talking about how you shouldn’t complain about all the things in life, they were already planned for you to endure and if you can’t endure it then that was planned as well.

The book of Meditations has helped me a lot in life like when I wake up I think about the first quote to motivate me out of bed and get on with school. I also use the book when I am having a difficult conversation with someone or get mad at them. I think that what happened was their responsibility and my responsibilities are to ignore it and focus on my own. As he says.
“Someone despises me.
That’s their problem.
Mine: not to do or say anything despicable.
Someone hates me. Their problem” (151). When you read Meditations take it to heart and you will undoubtedly be a better person than you were before.

- Roman

[grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book presents several valuable insights, but many of its ideas feel repetitive, often expressed in slightly different ways. Interestingly, some passages come across as quite poetic, which seems contradictory given the author’s criticism of poetry.

I found certain aspects of the text personally challenging. For instance, the idea that emotions like anger and grief are inherently wrong doesn’t sit well with me. I believe these feelings are natural and valid—as long as we don’t become consumed by them or act harmfully because of them. Additionally, many of the philosophical points rely heavily on belief in the gods, such as the notion that death and misfortune occur because they serve a divine purpose. This perspective can be alienating for atheists, making it difficult to reconcile such events with Stoic philosophy.

The gender hierarchy reflected in the language is also hard to ignore. While expected for the time, it’s still off-putting. There’s a clear contradiction in praising independent thought and freedom from servitude, while simultaneously taking pride in having an obedient wife and consistently framing virtue in terms of being a “good man.”

I also take issue with some of the author’s ideas around work. He suggests that we are born to work and serve a purpose, yet warns against being a master or a slave—despite having had servants himself. This raises the question: must every action be rooted in duty or purpose? What about pursuing joy or personal happiness? It seems narrow to view life primarily as service to others. He seems to admire those who work tirelessly without complaint, but this perspective lacks nuance.

Another troubling idea is the suggestion that we owe it to wrongdoers to educate them. To what extent is that truly our responsibility—especially when someone is unwilling to change? Moreover, the notion that victims can simply choose not to feel pain or suffering feels dismissive. Modern psychology recognizes that trauma and emotional pain are complex and often beyond one’s conscious control, which Aurelius appears to underestimate.

Some of his ideas also don’t quite translate to the modern world. Phrases like “everything that happens has already happened” or “why feel anger at the world?” feel inadequate when considering issues like climate change, artificial intelligence, or modern political unrest. It’s worth asking whether Aurelius would still hold these views if he lived today.

All that said, I still appreciate many of the book’s core messages—especially the emphasis on not being consumed by others’ opinions, accepting change, using philosophy as a tool, and prioritising justice and kindness.

[Katharina Manassis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually a connoisseur of ancient texts, but this book is an exception. Sometimes cryptic, sometimes brilliant, the sayings of Marcus Aurelius show a man trying his best to respond stoically to the challenges of his life and times. Hays introduction and comments provide helpful context for the modern reader. Stoicism is all about responding to events in a manner that is honorable, calm, and wise, even when one’s control over those events is limited. Aurelius’ pithy, sometimes lyrical sayings describe how to apply that approach in one’s life.
Because it contains a lifetime of wisdom, this is not a book to read cover to cover in a few sittings (despite the reporting requirements of Goodreads). Rather, it is a book to open daily for a few minutes, as though one were consulting an old friend or mentor once a day. Pondering the material slowly in this way allows its meaning to sink in. I appreciate Aurelius’ many “nuggets” of truth, and plan to continue doing so.

[Hamza Sadaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the book. It’s just a series of his thoughts about life and death and how to overcome obstacles.

What he says is very poetic and it’s mainly just about being a good person. However, as a young adult, I can’t currently relate to anything he says bc he talks about dealing with death so much, and hopefully I’ve still got many years before I need to think about that. So I reckon if I read this book in 30 years time I’d appreciate what he says a lot more.

He does say a lot of wise things that I have noted down and I’d like to reflect on when I have time because it might open up something inside of me that I didn’t know I had.

Also, Marcus does complain a lot and doesn’t give any actual solutions aside from be a good person.

I tried to read the original untranslated Meditations but that shit was too complicated to understand so I had to read the dumb version. So this book is good for anyone who cba to read old English and get a headache from it. Big up the translator.

[Anusha Datar · Rating 4 out of 5]

When my book club decided to start the year off with this book, I thought it might be interesting to read a different translation of it. While this one feels somewhat less "authentically ancient" than the Hammond translation (which I also think was well done, if harder to read), I really enjoyed Hays's work and thought he added useful context and stuck to accessible language.

Marcus Aurelius's words have managed to stand the test of time for a reason, and it's easy to feel like a lot of modern thinkers and their work are just re-stating what he had to say here (though I'm sure one could also say he was re-stating someone else). It's clear that his time on the battlefield (especially during a time before modern weapons) and as a leader gave him a clear-eyed perspective on life and death. It is ironic to think that sometimes Aurelius was not so stoic after all, but he also preached giving people grace and not judging them, so I'll have to let it slide.

[Mahin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was wonderful. But at the end of the day, it is Marcus Aurelius' brain dump, his journal.
So there is repetition of ideas. One thing was certain, at the time of writing this, he probably wasn't in his best of health. That explains him trying to navigate through fear of death throughout his writings.

But yes, this is a must read book for anyone. Praise to Gregory Hays. Cannot compare since this is the only translation I've read, but it was definitely well written.

[Drew Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave this Gregory Hays translation a go after hearing Ryan Holiday recommend it on a podcast. Definitely the most approachable and easiest to read out of all the translations I’ve gone through. If ever an inkling to learn more about the Stoic mindset then this is good as any to start your journey. In addition to any Epictetus journals

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book worth reading.

Many themes repeat but they are repeated in very different ways and so one way is more likely to resonate. Marcus Aurelius’ skillful writing is poetic yet practical.

I kept adding sticky notes to my favourite lines!

The beginning is very helpful where the translator provides much needed context for Roman thinking. Do not skip!

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no way of knowing how accurate this translation by Gregory Hays might be. Nevertheless, I am stunned by how many entries speak to my core beliefs while also enlightening me on how to inhabit my place in this connected world.

[Biggiwigs Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern day translation that does not read like a migraine -- impressive considering the entangled mess that is likely Marcus Aurelius' state of mind when writing Meditations. The translator also provides much needed context and perspectives, which made reading this book much more meaningful.

[Vlad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Logos everything happens for a reason..

Logos is driven and not aligned on hate revenge, meditations is driven to be on logos and focus on the grand scheme of things

No one can hurt you but only yourself can do that.

-Blinkist

[Ryan Madlener · Rating 5 out of 5]

Digestible, deep, meaningful and resonant; this collection of philosophy, the defining of the logos, our relationship to ourselves, society and nature; are all so important to "meditate" on. Thank you Marcus Aurelius and thank you Gregory Hays.

[Tyler Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive by the end, but still some good quotes in there. I like the format too. Brudda is really afraid of death for someone so sold on accepting “nature” lol. Interesting to see the thinking of someone almost 2k years ago

[Robert Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sort of helpful but I just couldn't stay with it.

[Rahul Raj Chukkath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Ryan Holiday for leading me to this translation. Took a few months to complete this tiny book. At least, now I realised how to read philosophy (kinda).

[Matthew S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reminders for living a better life. Note: it’s really important to have the right translation (this one).

[Arthur Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the comprehensive journal of a great leader, made digestible and clear, organized thoughtfully in a way that allows anybody to understand the wisdom that Stoic thought holds.

[Jennifer Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this book. The Hays translation with notes was great.