Translated by Robin Waterfield

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An exquisite abridged edition of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations by a renowned translator

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was the sixteenth emperor of Rome—and by far the most powerful man in the world. His collected thoughts, gems that have come to be called his Meditations, have proved an inexhaustible source of wisdom and one of the most important Stoic texts of all time. In often passionate language, the entries range from one-line aphorisms to essays, from profundity to bitterness.

An abridged and portable edition of Marcus Aurelius’s sage insights, The Wisdom of Marcus Aurelius illuminates one of the greatest works of popular philosophy ever composed.

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“[This translation] is wonderfully sober and taut, the choices felicitous….The volume’s stand-out feature is its wide-ranging set of footnotes, offering assistance to novice readers, insights that will intrigue specialists, and reformulations that clarify Marcus’ thoughts.”
Wall Street Journal
"The full and accessible notes make this volume particularly useful for those reading the work as life-guidance, as well as for other readers.”
Chris Gill, Classical Review
“A splendid translation… The notes and introduction are detailed but clear, authoritative both historically and philosophically, telling modern readers what they need to know. This is the best translation of the Meditations available today.”
Brad Inwood, William Lampson Professor of Philosophy and Classics, Yale University
"This new edition of the Meditations really is superb. Robin Waterfield is one of the most accomplished translators of ancient Greek out there. His [translation is] lucid and precise…and the extensive notes take into account the latest scholarship while remaining accessible. This must surely become the first choice English edition of the Meditations for decades to come."
John Sellars, author of Lessons in Stoicism
“This is a valuable addition to our stock of modern translations of the Meditations. The translation is accurate but also accessible and powerful. The full and informative introduction and the notes, helpfully placed at the foot of each page, make this a book that offers much to a wide variety of readers.”
Christopher Gill, emeritus professor of ancient Thought, University of Exeter, and author of Greek Thought
“Do we need another translation of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations? Yes, especially when it is so thoroughly and informatively annotated as Waterfield's. The introduction alone is worth the price of admission.”
Massimo Pigliucci, author of How to Be A Stoic
“A dazzling new translation… Readers: Do not skip the introduction. In hard-hitting and eloquent prose, Waterfield explains the personal and private meditations of an emperor who turns to Stoicism for exercises in becoming a better person and a better world leader.”
Nancy Sherman, professor of philosophy, Georgetown University
“The best of both worlds: a lively, readable, and engaging translation, supplemented by extensive notes drawn from up-to-date scholarship. Marcus emerges from the mists of time with a clear voice and a compelling vision.”
Tad Brennan, professor of philosophy and classics, Cornell University

On Sale: Mar 11, 2025
Page Count: 256 pages
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN-13: 9781541606760