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Marcus Cornelius Fronto

J Foxstone

Meditations Hardcover – September 16, 2016

by Marcus Aurelius (Author)

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Marcus Aurelius was born in Rome in 121 AD and would become its Emperor from 161 to 180. Considered by Machiavelli as the last of the good Emperors, Marcus Aurelius would become one of the most important of the Stoic philosophers. Educated in oratory, he would turn aside from rhetoric to the study of the Stoic philosophy, of which he was the last distinguished representative. The "Meditations," which he wrote in Greek, are among the most noteworthy expressions of this system, and exhibit it favorably on its practical side. The work is a series of twelve books that he intended for his own guidance and self-improvement, which picture with faithfulness the mind and character of this noblest of the Emperors. Simple in style and sincere in tone, they record for all time the height reached by pagan aspiration in its effort to solve the problem of conduct. In Marcus Aurelius's practice of this philosophy along with his teaching he showed that "even in a palace life may be led well." This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper, follows the highly-regarded translation of George Long, and includes an introduction by Alice Zimmern.

Print length

108 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Simon & Brown
Publication date

September 16, 2016
Dimensions

6 x 0.38 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1613827148
ISBN-13

978-1613827147
Lexile measure

1150L
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent. The book, which Hays calls, fondly, a "haphazard set of notes," is indicative of the role of philosophy among the ancients in that it is "expected to provide a 'design for living.'" And it does, both aphoristically ("Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly.") and rhetorically ("What is it in ourselves that we should prize?"). Whether these, and other entries ("Enough of this wretched, whining monkey life.") sound life-changing or like entries in a teenager's diary is up to the individual reader, as it should be. Hays's introduction, which sketches the life of Marcus Aurelius (emperor of Rome A.D. 161-180) as well as the basic tenets of stoicism, is accessible and jaunty. --H. O'Billovich --This text refers to the paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

“Here, for our age, is [Marcus’s] great work presented in its entirety, strongly introduced and freshly, elegantly translated.” —Robert Fagles --This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Marcus Aurelius was born in 121 AD. He was the Roman emperor between 161 AD and 180 AD. His Meditations are our closest link to Ancient Stoicism and its practices.
George Long was an English scholar and translator in the early-to-mid-1800s. In addition to Meditations, his translation works include Plutarch s Lives as well as Discourses of Epictetus. He was an avid member of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge and edited their quarterly magazine entitled Journal of Education.
Carolyn Gregoire is a senior writer at the Huffington Post. Her focus areas include human behavior, psychology, and neuroscience. Her work has been featured in the New Republic, Time magazine, Scientific American, among other publications. Additionally, she is the coauthor of the book Wired to Create. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
" --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Review

"Here, for our age, is [Marcus's] great work presented in its entirety, strongly introduced and freshly, elegantly translated." --Robert Fagles

"From the Trade Paperback edition.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

A series of spiritual exercises filled with wisdom, practical guidance, and profound understanding of human behavior, Marcus Aurelius's "Meditations remains one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. Marcus's insights and advice--on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity and interacting with others--have made the "Meditations required reading for statesmen and philosophers alike, while generations of ordinary readers have responded to the straightforward intimacy of his style.
In Gregory Hays's new translation--the first in a generation--Marcus's thoughts speak with a new immediacy: never before have they been so directly and powerfully presented.

"From the Trade Paperback edition.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Book One

1. Courtesy and serenity of temper I first learnt to know from my grandfather Verus.

2. Manliness without ostentation I learnt from what I have heard and remember of my father.

3. My mother set me an example of piety and generosity, avoidance of all uncharitableness - not in actions only, but in thought as well - and a simplicity of life quite unlike the usual habits of the rich.

4. To my great-grandfather I owed the advice to dispense with the education of the schools and have good masters at home instead - and to realize that no expense should be grudged for this purpose.

5. It was my tutor who dissuaded me from patronizing Green or Blue* at the races, or Light or Heavy† in the ring; and encouraged me not to be afraid of work, to be sparing in my wants, attend to my own needs, mind my own business, and never listen to gossip.

* The colours of the rival charioteers in the Circus. Roman enthusiasm for these races was unbounded; successful drivers earned large fortunes and became popular idols.

† In one form of gladiatorial combat (the ‘Thracian’) the opponents were armed with light round bucklers; in another (the ‘Samnite’) they carried heavy oblong shields.

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Brown (September 16, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 108 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1613827148
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1613827147
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1150L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.38 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #618,046 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,099 in Greek & Roman Philosophy (Books)
- #1,435 in Religious Philosophy (Books)
- #1,953 in Political Philosophy (Books)

Customer Reviews:
8,019 ratings

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Marcus Cornelius Fronto
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Marcus Cornelius Fronto (c. 100 – late 160s), Roman grammarian, rhetorician and advocate, was born at Cirta in Numidia. He also was suffect consul of 142.
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J Foxstone
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5 star		73%
4 star		13%
3 star		8%
2 star		2%
1 star		3%

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J. E. Fritz

Exceedingly bad translation

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is a poor translation with an introduction that is amost nonsensical. The meditations themselves are great, but if you are looking for a translation that makes the meditations of Marcus Aurelius accessible to the modern reader, this edition is not it. The translation and the introduction are uncredited, so I don't even know ho to blame for the poor quality other than Black and White Classics. I am sincerely concerned about all of the reviewers who gave this translation a good review. I hope their reviews were too focused on Marcus Aurelius and the meditations themselves to have noticed the failure of the translators to make this text accessible. My assumption is that Black and White Classics found a British translation from the mid to late nineteenth century that was royalty free and could thereby be slapped into a book without having to pay anyone. Do not buy this text from this publisher. I will be looking for a new one ASAP. Made the mistake of buying the least expensive version this time. I will never do that again.

173 people found this helpful

Helpful

Publius

Very Tough to Read - Old style King James Version type language.

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

Here's a short passage:

"Remember thous how long thou hast been putting off these things, and how often thou hast received an opportunity from the gods and yet dost not use it. Thou must now at last . . ."

As opposed to:

"Remember how long you have put off these things, and how many opportunities the gods have given you, and you still don't use it. Now you must finally . . . '

This was a diary Marcus Aurelius kept for himself, and was not written in a high literary style. Trying to dress it up in centuries-old literary English is dumb. Or likely, just lazy. They just used an old translation that was out of copyright.

In my opinion - don't bother.

102 people found this helpful

Helpful

davidhmorgan

It's worth trying different translations

Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2013

Verified Purchase

I don't know who did the translation for this one but I found it very difficult to follow. This prompted me to look around and I found another translation by George Long (Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus 1862). Even though it's not a recent translation, Long's version is often easier to understand. Compare the translations of the first paragraph for example:

This version:

Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. From the fame and memory of him that begot me I have learned both shamefastness and manlike behaviour. Of my mother I have learned to be religious, and bountiful; and to forbear, not only to do, but to intend any evil; to content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incidental to great wealth. Of my great-grandfather, both to frequent public schools and auditories, and to get me good and able teachers at home; and that I ought not to think much, if upon such occasions, I were at excessive charges.

George Long's version:

From my grandfather Verus I learned good morals and the government of my temper. From the reputation and remembrance of my father, modesty and a manly character. From my mother, piety and beneficence, and abstinence, not only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts; and further, simplicity in my way of living, far removed from the habits of the rich. From my great-grandfather, not to have frequented public schools, and to have had good teachers at home, and to know that on such things a man should spend liberally.

Having said this however, it's still worth comparing both translations which are free on the Kindle.

1,948 people found this helpful

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Alexander Casillas

Meditations - 5stars

Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2014

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Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard, accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”

Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. The book has done so much to ferment my prior beliefs and has helped a lot to broaden my mind and encourage me to be all that I can be.

It is very difficult in today’s world to believe in anything, whether it be divine beings, other people, or even ourselves. It is an epidemic that buries potential and love deep down and leaves anger and frustration to dictate life.

There is no reason to feel unhappy, unfulfilled, or unappreciated , and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius offers advice to anyone who is looking for self help, self love, and a rational way of directing life.

Before reading this book it is interesting to know the man that wrote it. Marcus Aurelius was the last of The Five Good Emperors of Ancient Rome. He took the title of Augustus after the death of his adopted father, Antoninus Pius, the adopted son of the late Emperor Hadrian.

However Marcus Aurelius had tried to pass on the emperorship, for he prefered a much more simple philosophic lifestyle. He accepted the honor with the sole demand that Lucius Verus, his adopted brother, would share the seat with him.

Sharing his seat of power is the one move that summarizes Marcus Aurelius’s entire life; the fear of power and the duty embedded in him through his interest in Stoicism, a philosophy that grounds itself on self-restraint, reason, and fate.

His work is a reflection of his life, and the words inscribed in Meditations are the product of his own thoughts and his own experiences. While reading this book good feelings will begin to surface through introspection, and in turn bad feelings will be expelled.

In my everyday life quotes from his book swim in my mind when I am met with difficult situations, and they enable me to make smarter more thought out and rational decisions. It is fascinating and rewarding each time I don’t simply act on impulse.

This book is not for entertainment, not for adventure, and it is definitely not a “light read.” It is a book that will help those who seek help, irritate those who don’t, and fascinate those who wish to learn and grow.

637 people found this helpful

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Stefano

Crazy Typos not even readable. Please DO NOT buy this version!

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2019

Verified Purchase

This is an extremely poor version of this book it is completely unreadable. The editing was subpar and words do not even make sense. It seems like someone only put it through a translator and didn't check it after that. I'm not sure the person who translated it even speaks English. Do not waste your money on this version.

39 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Appalling translation

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

As a linguist and translator I have to say that this is an appalling translation. The vocabulary used is totally inappropriate for the period of antiquity in which it was written - full of Americanisms like "guys". The English grammar was so bad I couldn't follow the meaning. In the end I gave up and removed it from my device replacing it with a far better translation that did not even cost me anything. I could have done a better job myself.

238 people found this helpful

R. Linton

An accidentally hilarious translation

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 23, 2019

Verified Purchase

This translation is completely unreadable - like maybe they just fed the text into google translate? Unfortunately I left it too long to return this for a refund, but please please please learn from my mistakes and don't order this version! As an example, this is the first couple of lines copied faithfully:

"MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS turned into born on April 26, A.D. 121. His actual name was M. Annius Verus, and he changed into sprung of a noble own family which claimed decent from Numa, 2nd King of Rome."

I was also surprised at the many references to Marcus Aurelius's many web pages:
"on the very first web page of his book..."
etc

143 people found this helpful

Tom Vaughan-Mountford

Unreadable gibberish, total scam

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

DO NOT BUY! Don’t waste your money buying this abysmal translation. I have no idea how this has gained any reviews more than one star - it is largely unreadable gibberish, and the word ‘software’ should definitely not be present! Should be removed from Amazon.

84 people found this helpful

Jeff146

The Worst Translation from Latin to English Ever

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

Don't bother. A very poor translation by someone who needs to study the English language. Search for a recommended version. I gave up after struggling with the introduction.

59 people found this helpful

Jeff Griffiths

Very questionable translation...

Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

Started reading at the intro... and immediately came across stuff like:

" ... MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS become born on April 26, AD 121. His actual name changed into M. Annius Verus , and he changed into sprung of a noble own family which Claimed descent from Numa, 2d King of Rome. Thus the maximum spiritual of emperors Got right here of the blood of the maximum pious of early kings. His father, Annius Verrus, had held excessive office in Rome, and his grandfather, of the identical call, were thrice Consul..."

My first reaction was "WTF?"... it appears like it was machine translated and not edited at all. Later it gets worse:

"His body changed into knowledgeable to hardihood through way of wrestling, searching, and outside video video video video games; and no matter the truth that his charter have become susceptible, he confirmed superb personal courage to encounter the fiercest boars. At the same time he changed into stored from the extravagancies of his day. The tremendous delight in Rome end up the strife of the Factions, as they have been known as, inside the circus. The racing drivers used to undertake clearly one in every of 4 shades—pink, blue, white, or green—and their partisans confirmed an eagerness in helping them which no longer some element can also furthermore additionally want to surpass."

"... outside video video video video games" (?!?!?) Seriously?

So, it's basically unreadable. No idea how this was translated, or by who, but it's clearly not what I thought I was buying. No faith that the actual meditations which follow have been faithfully translated, and I've requesting a refund.

Best avoid this one and pick a version from a reputable source.

71 people found this helpful

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