马可·奥勒留

Marcus Aurelius

Stoicism · person

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121–180 CE) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 CE and the last of the Five Good Emperors. He is also the most famous Stoic philosopher of the Roman period. His personal writings, the Meditations (Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν / Ta eis heauton, 'To Himself'), were never intended for publication but have become the most widely read Stoic text. Written during military campaigns, they cover discipline, duty, mortality, and the governance of the self.

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.

— Meditations, Book 5 (Marcus Aurelius)

What Are the Key Facts About Marcus Aurelius?

  • Tradition: Stoicism
  • Chinese: 马可·奥勒留
  • Category: Person
  • Definition: Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (121–180 CE) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 CE and the last of the Five Good Emperors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marcus Aurelius

Who was Marcus Aurelius?

Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) was Roman emperor and the last of the 'Five Good Emperors,' author of the Meditations — private Stoic reflections written in Greek on duty, mortality, and reason.

What is the Meditations?

The Meditations (Ta eis heauton, 'To Himself') are Marcus' personal notes, not a published work: reminders to act with justice, accept fate, and see things as they are.

What is his view of death?

He repeatedly reminds himself that death is natural and indifferent, to be met without fear; 'you suffer more in imagination than in reality.'

What is 'the view from above'?

A famous exercise: imagine the world from the cosmos's perspective to shrink petty concerns and see one's place in the rational whole.

Further Reading