Don't act as if you have ten thousand years to live. As long as you live, as long as you can, make yourself good. The "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) are a private notebook of philosophical reflections, likely written by a Roman emperor during a military campaign in Germany. In short, powerful comments, Marcus draws on Stoic philosophy to confront challenges he felt intensely, which are also shared by all people: the looming presence of death, the meaning of one's social role and projects, the moral significance of the universe. They bring us closer to the personality of the emperor, who is often disillusioned by his own status and by human activities in general. They are both a historical document and a remarkable spiritual diary. This translation by Robin Hard highlights the eloquence and universality of Marcus' thoughts.