Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius is here because the Meditations were not written for a reader. He ran an empire and kept notes to himself about doing the next thing well and not complaining about it. I read him when I am angry at something I do not control.

He was born in Rome in 121 and was emperor from 161 until he died in 180. He wrote the Meditations in Greek, much of it on campaign along the Danube. This bust was carved while he was alive.