|
Therefore no one is to be blamed."I wonder what Aurelius would think of what has become of his random reflections. He has been dubbed the last of the five good emperors. It is unlikely that he would have thought they would have been collected into a book - among other matters, they lack coherence and rigor. He wrote this collection of thoughts, which latter would be titled "Meditations," in the last decade of his life, the 6th, a time of life that others also wisely begin to contemplate the real questions of life. In death, as a Stoic, he believed that he will be re-merged into a Universal Nature (which the translator renders with capitals).There are numerous useful aphorisms. Although Roman, with presumably Latin being his first tongue, Aurelius wrote these thoughts in Greek, which was the language of the "cultivated" at the time, much as French was in the 18th Century. There are ample dollops of fatalism and re-incarnation in his mediations.
There is this "I need to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming" quality about this book. Christianity, a minor sect at the time, is mentioned only once in the book. Aurelius was the Emperor of one of the greatest empires on earth, at its apogee, and these thoughts were written as he was actively campaigning against hostile tribes in areas that are now Serbia and Hungary. And apparently, based on other reviews, best not to include the variations from Kindle.
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor, from 161 to his death, from the plague, in 180. His work is also heavy on the ultimate question - how to face one's own death - and he consistently stresses the importance of exiting with grace, and without regret. Yes, A Happy Death. Those who advocate torturing our enemies might consider: "The noblest kind of retribution is not to become like your enemy." Or "for pride smoldering under a cover of humility is the most grievous pride of all." And there are certainly those I would disagree with: "The gods must not be blamed; for they do no wrong, willingly or unwillingly; nor human beings' for they do no wrong except unwillingly. He addressed the larger issues of life, the philosophical "big questions," and did this not in an abstract, academic sense, but as to how they applied to his daily living. There are also numerous editions and translations, and although I just purchased this a copy from Amazon, it seems to vary from some of the other editions. Aurelius subscribed to the Stoic school of philosophy which originated in Greece, and he often contrasts his thoughts with the ones from another Greek school, the Epicurean. There are numerous redundancies, and inconsistencies.
He was not concerned with the particulars involving his subordinates, nor the changing fortunes of the wars. His first book is a collection of "thanks" to the individuals who influenced him (a useful exercise for all of us). And it seems that even the specialists in the field cannot decipher around 10% of his references. For the thrill of reading the philosophical musing of a true world leader, and intellect, I'd give the book 5-stars; however, since he may have never have intended it to be published in this format, and for the lack of cohesion, overall, think it rates a 4-star.
Thus enlightened one can then shed the psychologically crippling factors of social expectation, internal and external opinion, and even human mortality. Meditations is on my top-five book list. In other words, "think of yourself as dead. And I doubt it will ever drop out of it. Marcus identifies the limited value each person in this world possesses using cold, hard truth without offending the ego. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly."I love this book.
Timeless knowledge for the aspiring students of a higher level of consciousness in a tumultuous world
Very pleased with this inexpensive translation full of useful notes. Another item I usually skip--the introductory essay aimed at keeping some professor both in print and in a job--was surprisingly useful.
In fact, if my study of ancient languages were better, I might go with what they suggest. Generally speaking, I really dislike "new translations" for the very reasons that those 3-star ratings below cite--they are usually watered down, do not actually convey what the author really meant to convey, and often treat the reader as an idiot without a shot at getting his GED.
It's amazing. However, this translation does clear up several impenetrable idioms that the usual reader would find frustrating.
And the original does stand up against this treatment. A great little edition full of some often very powerful principles.
I would buy it again in an instant with my limited budget for books.
Reading this volume, one is often reminded of the aphorisms of Nietzsche and Cioran,particularly in this translation by Gregory Hays that retains the author's spark and humor, a brand of wit that was lost in earlier and more churchly translations. Unlike the sickly and often gloomy modern counterparts referenced, however, Marcus Aurelius was a general of Rome, and thus his attitude towards the nothingness he recognizes is not defeatist but upright, not rebellious but dignified, not scathing but almost tender, not condescending but humble. The meditations of Marcus Aurelius anticipate existentialism, but rather than invite the individual to define particular values, the Roman recommends justice, discipline, efficiency, simplicity, elegance, courage, as absolute virtues, despite (or because of) his acceptance of the emptiness all around, even of such noble absolutes.
|
