Written in Greek by the first Roman emperor who was also a great philosopher, without any thoughts of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius present an exceptional series of challenging spiritual reflections and activities that improved as the emperor attempted to understand himself and make sense of the universe. While the Meditations were made to give individual consolation and encouragement, Marcus Aurelius created one of the best of all the works of philosophy, a timeless collection that has been counseled and respected by statesmen, thinkers, and most readers throughout the centuries.