by Marcus Aurelius, Gregory Hays (180)
Written without any thought of publication by the ruler of the Roman world, Meditations consists of private spiritual reflections, psychological exercises, and Stoic maxims for remaining serene, disciplined, and virtuous amidst chaos.
Lao Tzu, Stephen Mitchell
The eighty-one short poetic verses of the Tao Te Ching deliver the foundation of Taoist wisdom: living in harmony with the natural flow of the universe through simplicity, humility, and effortless action (wu wei).
Plato, G.M.A. Grube, C.D.C. Reeve
Plato’s crowning dialogue on the nature of justice, the ideal state ruled by philosopher-kings, the theory of Forms, and the famous Allegory of the Cave.
Marcus Aurelius
Written in Greek by the only Roman emperor who was also a philosopher, without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a remarkable series of challenging spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the emperor struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe.
Seneca
Seneca’s letters to his friend Lucilius advise on living a virtuous, composed life amid political chaos and the temptations of imperial Rome. Seneca preaches the moderation of passions, acceptance of mortality, and the pursuit of inner tranquility.