Editing Marcus Aurelius (section)

=== ''Meditations'' ===
{{main|Meditations}}
[[File:MeditationsMarcusAurelius1811.jpg|thumb|First page of the 1811 English translation by [[Richard Graves]]]]
While on campaign between 170 and 180, Marcus wrote his ''Meditations'' in Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. The original title of this work, if it had one, is unknown. 'Meditations' – as well as other titles including 'To Himself' – were adopted later. His notes were representative of Stoic philosophy and spirituality. ''Meditations'' is still revered as a literary monument to a government of service and duty. [[George Long (scholar)|George Long]]'s English translation of ''Meditations'' was included in Volume 2 of the ''[[Harvard Classics]]''. According to Hays, the book was a favourite of [[Frederick the Great]], [[John Stuart Mill]], [[Matthew Arnold]], and [[Goethe]].<ref>Hays, p. xlix.</ref> It has been considered by many commentators to be one of the greatest works of philosophy.<ref name='Collins1973'>Collins, p. 58.</ref> ''Meditations'' sold 16,000 copies in 2012. In 2019, 100,000 copies were sold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Love |first=Shayla |date=29 June 2021 |title=The Revival of Stoicism |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-revival-of-stoicism/ |access-date=12 December 2023 |website=Vice |language=en |archive-date=12 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212190934/https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgxvmw/the-revival-of-stoicism |url-status=live }}</ref>

It is not known how widely Marcus's writings were circulated after his death. There are stray references in the ancient literature to the popularity of his precepts, and [[Julian the Apostate]] was well aware of his reputation as a philosopher, though he does not specifically mention ''Meditations''.<ref>Stertz, p. 434, citing Themistius, ''Oratio'' 6.81; ''HA Cassius'' 3.5; Victor, ''De Caesaribus'' 16.9.</ref> It survived in the scholarly traditions of the Eastern Church, and the first surviving quotes of the book, as well as the first known reference to it by name ('Marcus's writings to himself') are from [[Arethas of Caesarea]] in the 10th century and in the Byzantine [[Suda]] (perhaps inserted by Arethas himself). It was [[list of editiones principes in Greek|first published]] in 1558 in Zurich by [[Wilhelm Xylander|Wilhelm Xylander (né Holzmann)]], from a manuscript reportedly lost shortly afterwards.<ref>Hays, pp. xlviii–xlix.</ref> The oldest surviving complete manuscript copy is in the [[Vatican library]] and dates to the 14th century.<ref>Hadot, p. 22.</ref>

[[File:Roman - Portrait of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius - Walters 23215 (cropped).jpg|thumb|A 2nd century [[Roman portraiture|Roman sculpted portrait]] of Marcus Aurelius, which captures the pensive temperament of the philosopher-emperor, now in the [[Walters Art Museum]]]]

Marcus acquired the reputation of a [[philosopher king]] within his lifetime, and the title would remain after his death; both Dio and the biographer call him "the philosopher".<ref>''HA Marcus'' i. 1, xxvii. 7; Dio lxxi. 1.1; James Francis, ''Subversive Virtue: Asceticism and Authority in the Second-Century Pagan World'' (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1995), 21 n. 1.</ref><ref>Mark, Joshua. [https://www.worldhistory.org/article/174/marcus-aurelius-platos-philosopher-king/ 'Marcus Aurelius: Plato's Philosopher King'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420053011/https://www.worldhistory.org/article/174/marcus-aurelius-platos-philosopher-king/ |date=20 April 2021 }}. ''World History Encyclopedia''. 8 May 2018.</ref> Christians such as [[Justin Martyr]], [[Athenagoras of Athens|Athenagoras]], and [[Eusebius]] also gave him the title.<ref>Francis, p. 21 n.1, citing Justin, ''1 Apologia'' 1; Athenagoras, ''Leg''. 1; Eusebius, ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' 4.26.9–11.</ref> The latter went so far as to call him "more philanthropic and philosophic" than Antoninus and Hadrian, and set him against the persecuting emperors Domitian and Nero to make the contrast bolder.<ref>Eusebius, ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' 4.26.9–11, qtd. and tr. Francis, 21 n. 1.</ref>

The historian Herodian wrote:

<blockquote>Alone of the emperors, he gave proof of his learning not by mere words or knowledge of philosophical doctrines but by his blameless character and temperate way of life.<ref>Herodian, ''Ab Excessu Divi Marci'' i.2.4, tr. Echols.</ref></blockquote>

[[Iain King]] says Marcus's legacy was tragic:

<blockquote>[The emperor's] Stoic philosophy – which is about self-restraint, duty, and respect for others – was so abjectly abandoned by the imperial line he anointed on his death.<ref>Thinkers at War.</ref></blockquote>