Notes to Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Preface by N.N. (Project Gutenberg):

* Marcus Aurelius (121-180). Roman Emperor (161-180). Commander-in-chief in battles against barbarian tribes. Legend of the Thundering Legion, a battle against the Quadi in 174, which was won through a sudden great storm of thunder, lightning, and rain that struck the foe with terror. 'Mediations', written day by day in every situation, including war. M.A. devoted himself to the study of law and philosophy, especially Stoicism. Meditations not written for an audience. M.A.'s philosophy is not an eager intellectual inquiry, but a 'religious feeling'. May not be profound, but always sincere. To serve the divine spirit, a man must keep himself pure from all violent passion and evil affection, from all rashness and vanity, and from all manner of discontent, either in regard of the gods or men (=unspotted by pleasure, undaunted by pain). Whatsoever any man either doth or saith, thou must be good; doth any man offend? It is against himself that he doth offend: why should it trouble thee? The offender needs pity, not wrath. The best kind of revenge is, not to become like unto them.

* Background: Roman religion: unsatisfying for the thoughtful mind. Childish legends, teachings had little to do with morality. Nature of a bargain: men paid certain sacrifices and rites, and gods granted favors independently of right or wrong. Intellectuals turned to Greek philosophy. Two rival schools: Stoicism (repression of all emotion; in todays sense: stubborn endurance) and Epicureanism (freedom from all disturbance; today: unbridled, uninhibited licence). Stoic idea of virtue: conforming of life with nature.

* Pax Romana: 200 years of peace in Rome. 27 BC-180 AD. Order and good government. Prosperity. Roads, cities built and expanded.

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