Meditations of Marcus Aurelius (Book 1)

If you desire to master pain
Unroll this book and read with care,
And in it find abundantly
A knowledge of the things that are,
Those that have been, and those to come.

And know as well that joy and grief
Are nothing more than empty smoke.

A reading by Chris Krause, based upon the Gregory Hays translation. MP3s available here:

http://www.krauselabs.net/?p=141

BA Thesis:
http://www.krauselabs.net/?page_id=595

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Marcus
• Aurelius
• Meditations
• Stoicism
• Virtue
• Depression
• Suicide
• Grief
• audiobook
• pain
• philosophy
• virtus
• philosopher
• king

[StoicTwo]

Man I read this book years ago I think it's one of the reasons Im still here,lmao!

-StoicOne!

[tanit]

Same here.

[AnonymousWhitePerson]

Philosophian practizari...

[tanit]

Huh?

[Jizuschrist]

Most Unfortunate that he only ruled briefly, His only great failure in my opinion was not instilling into his son Commodus the virtues of humility and modesty.

I wonder what would have happened had his other sons lived to succeed him, Would they have emulated his excellence? Was Commodus the black sheep of his family?

[tanit]

If either are you interested in this topic you should check out my BA thesis, I put the link in the video description.

[markos824]

that is my favorite emperor

[dtstrain]

"Didn't get absorbed by logic chopping" - wonderful. So many forget that the purpose of philosophy is to be a guide to living well, and instead make it into a theater by which they can name drop and show off their alleged intellects.

[Dolphidood]

Rule with fear... erm no but "Nothing happens to any man that he was not formed by nature to bear." Yes.

[PRLTMFW]

@Jizuschrist Regarding Commodus, it really wasn't for lack of trying. That kid was just a bad apple. He was like a modern punk- he rebelled against his great father's entire lifestyle. He was really the most aptly named emperor

[adamscott]

I finished reading the Wordsworth edition of 'meditations' or 'thoughts' today. Wisdom and power are rare.

[thomasmoresakano]

His book on my desk for many years ,,I'm remembered his words.

[Leon612]

wow this sounds great. i must borrow this at my local library over the summer.

[Thesocraticbreed]

@tanit

I got the George Long copy, I think it may be the best... George Long seems to translate all of it, while the Penguin Classics and other versions of it leaves out a few parts of it. Marcus Aurelius was a true philosopher and he enlightened me greater than many other philosophers that I read ever since I started to study philosophy.

[arazzo1000]

thank you very much for posting this video

[elchriso5]

Around the 4:30 mark: Marcus Aurelius pwning grammar Nazis 2000 odd years before the internet!

[ilikeyouallot]

most of us are just teachable, or not? we find something in life, some consolation to the bad and hard times, most of us wish to have a good time, we are made it of habits, like the horse that loves running and feel freedom, don't want to win, there is just pleasure, (want to be the best LOL LOL.compete...), booh! just plain pleasure in seeing thegreen color of the grass, and the yellow leaves of the gingko, when the winter rain falls see the blue sky and not to think, but contemplatew/pleasure

[ilikeyouallot]

my self, what i am. another living creature, i what i am is the result of all the things i learn and the experiences, my personality, is sustained by solitude , and sometimes loneliness,especially when it is about the way we are, and we always been this way, but now we are about 7 billion people, poverty and misery, and especially ignorance, most is excessive and deficient, it is a bad trip, i see Mr marcus in another times in different conditions and many other philosophers, with good guidance