Death is a recurring theme. Marcus argues that because life is short, we must live with virtue and purpose right now, rather than wasting time on trivialities.

While the modern translation by (published by the Modern Library ) is under copyright and typically requires a purchase through retailers like Amazon, there are several legal ways to read Meditations for free. Free Public Domain Versions

: Hays deliberately avoided making Marcus sound like a detached "sage." Instead, he captured the direct, conversational tone of a personal journal meant only for the author’s eyes. Poetic Impact

Because Marcus Aurelius died over 1,800 years ago, his original thoughts are in the public domain. Several older translations are available for free:

Old (Long): “Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind.” Hays : “The nature of your mind is revealed by the character of your thoughts.”