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Meditations — Marcus Aurelius

Written work · Essential works

Meditations

Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν

Busto de Marco Aurelio (Louvre, MR 561)
byMarcus Aurelius

Twelve books of short notes, in Koine Greek, in which the emperor urges himself to live according to nature and reason on Stoic principles. Book I differs from the rest: an account of what he learned from his family, his teachers—Rusticus, Apollonius, Sextus, Fronto—and Antoninus Pius, and of what he owes to the gods. Book II is headed "Among the Quadi, on the Granua" and Book III "At Carnuntum". Books IV to XII alternate maxims, meditations on death and transience, the examination of one's own impressions, the view from above on human affairs, patience with others as kin in a common reason, and acceptance of what fate brings. He quotes Heraclitus, Epicurus and above all Epictetus. The first printed edition is Xylander's (Zurich, 1558); the other complete witness is the Vaticanus graecus 1950 (14th century).

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Authorship note

An authentic work, written by Marcus Aurelius in Greek for his own use, probably in the 170s and with no intention of publishing it. The Greek title ("To Himself") is found in the manuscript tradition; it is not known to be the author's. The division into twelve books is ancient, but the chapter numbering is modern and varies between editions.

Editions and translations

Editions in your language first, without hiding the others. Each with its cover and its store.

English

  • Meditations, with Selected Correspondence

    Oxford University Press (Oxford World's Classics), 2011

    Translation: Robin Hard

    ISBN 9780199573202

    Introducción y notas de Christopher Gill; incluye una selección de las cartas con Frontón.

  • Meditations — Marcus Aurelius

    Meditations

    Penguin Classics, 2006

    Translation: Martin Hammond

    ISBN 9780140449334

    Introducción de Diskin Clay.

  • Meditations: A New Translation — Marcus Aurelius

    Meditations: A New Translation

    Modern Library, 2003

    Translation: Gregory Hays

    ISBN 9780812968255

  • The Meditations — Marcus Aurelius

    The Meditations

    Hackett Publishing, 1983

    Translation: G. M. A. Grube

    ISBN 9780915145799

  • Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library 58) — Marcus Aurelius

    Marcus Aurelius (Loeb Classical Library 58)

    Harvard University Press / Heinemann, 1916

    Translation: C. R. Haines

    ISBN 9780674990647

    Edición bilingüe griego-inglés; el ISBN corresponde a la reimpresión registrada en Open Library.

  • Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

    Project Gutenberg (trad. de George Long, 1862), 1862

    Translation: George Long

    Dominio público.

  • Meditations

    Project Gutenberg (trad. de Meric Casaubon, 1634), 1634

    Translation: Meric Casaubon

    Primera traducción inglesa; dominio público.

Español

  • Soliloquios

    Biblioteca Clásica (Obras de los moralistas griegos), Madrid; Wikisource, 1888

    Translation: Jacinto Díaz de Miranda

    Traducción publicada por primera vez en 1785. Dominio público.

  • Meditaciones — Marcus Aurelius

    Meditaciones

    Gredos (Biblioteca Clásica Gredos, 5), 2005

    Translation: Ramón Bach Pellicer

    ISBN 9788424934972

    Introducción de Carlos García Gual. 5.ª reimpresión; primera edición en 1977.

  • Meditaciones o Soliloquios

    Alianza Editorial (El libro de bolsillo, Clásicos de Grecia y Roma), 2014

    Translation: Antonio Guzmán Guerra

    ISBN 9788420688466

    Año tomado del catálogo del librero; confirmar en el colofón.

Other works by Marcus Aurelius

Sources

  • Marco Aurelio. Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν (Meditaciones). Texto griego en Wikisource en griego; trad. inglesa de George Long, The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (Londres, 1862), en Wikisource en inglés.

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