Marcus Aurelius: 'Meditations'; Epictetus: 'Enchiridion'

Introduction by Russell Kirk to the Regnery Gateway Editions, 1956.

"The Enchiridion, or Manual, of Epictetus was compiled by the historian Arrian, a devoted pupil of that great teacher, who set down almost verbatim the observations of his master. (Arrian also wrote the Discourses of Epictetus, in eight books, of which four remain to us, and a biography, altogether lost.) Intended to make available within a small compass the remarks of Epictetus most likely to move men’s minds and hearts, the Manual duplicates, in part, the four surviving books of the Discourses. ...
...
'Every one of us wears mourning in his heart for Marcus Aurelius,' says Renan, 'as if he died but yesterday.' The Meditations, one of the most intimate of all books (its real title is Marcus Aurelius to Himself), seems indeed to be the work of some dear friend of ours, so that the eighteen centuries that lie between the great emperor and us are as nothing. Appreciation of Marcus Aurelius’ thought, however, is a modern thing, for his little book was not generally known until late in the sixteenth century. Ever since then, it has been read more than any other work of ancient philosophy, and has been the especial favorite of military men... ."

See Epictetus, The Enchiridon, in Gateway to the Great Books (10 Vol., 1963) volume 10; The Discourses, in Great Books of the Western World (first edition, 54 Vol., 1952) volume 12, (second edition, 60 Vol., 1990) volume 11.

See Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, in Great Books of the Western World (first edition, 52 Vol., 1952) volume 12, and (second edition, 60 Vol., 1990) volume 11.