The Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius – 1920

An attractive early 20th-century edition of the Meditations, or Thoughts of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a founding text of the Stoic principles of philosophy.

Divided into 12 sections, the notes were never intended for publication and outline a range of thoughts and ideas. They were titled in full as the Commentaries of the Emperor Marcus Antonius, Containing his Maxims of Science and Rules of Life.

This is a translation by George Long from the original Greek, in which the notes were written in the 2nd century AD.

Hardback, bound in the original burgundy cloth with a green and gold motif and lettering to front board and spine. Rough-cut pages. Full-page portrait of Marcus Aurelius on title page, with tissue guard separator. In very good condition, minor external wear, neat previous owner’s name inside. Binding tight and square.

Published by George Harrap in London as part of its Harrap Library series. Undated, but c.1920.