The Canon Library
Cover of Meditations

Ancient · Philosophy

Meditations

by Marcus Aurelius. Private reflections of a Roman emperor on discipline, impermanence, reason, service, and emotional resilience.

Date
c. 170–180 CE
Origin
Roman Empire
Era
Ancient
Genre
Philosophy
Difficulty
Accessible
Length
Medium
Collection
The Western Canon

Subjects and themes

StoicismDutySelf-Command

Why it matters

Private reflections of a Roman emperor on discipline, impermanence, reason, service, and emotional resilience.

This work is included in the collection on the basis of great books / harvard. Its cataloged influence level is 5 out of 5.

Related works

Book

Essays

Francis Bacon · Early Modern · Essays / philosophy

Reading lists featuring Meditations

Reading path

Essential 100

A century of works that gives the broadest useful first view of the Western canon. 100 books · Advanced.

Reading path

Ancient Philosophy

The foundational arguments about virtue, knowledge, politics, mortality, and the good life. 8 books · Intermediate.