Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD and a Stoic philosopher. He spent much of his reign on military campaigns defending the Empire's borders, and it was during this period that he wrote the Meditations — private notes to himself in Greek, never intended for publication, on how to live according to Stoic principles. He is considered the last of the "Five Good Emperors." The Meditations were first published in 1558 and have been continuously in print ever since; they are the most widely read work of ancient philosophy.