Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

"Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus" by Emperor of Rome Marcus Aurelius is a philosophical book from the 2nd century AD where the author thinks about virtue, duties, and understanding oneself. Marcus Aurelius, who was both a philosopher and an emperor, uses Stoicism to consider both his own inner problems and what he should do as a leader. Early in the text, his life is described, including who he was related to, how he was taught, and his philosophical education. The writing highlights how much he cared about Stoicism and how his teachers influenced him when he was young. This part shows how he became emperor, the difficult situations he was in, and his thoughts on being a good person, wise, and a leader in hard times, which all leads to his philosophical ideas later on. The early passages describe his life, as well as his journey of self-reflection that happens in the meditations that come later.