"Not becoming like your enemy is the best revenge."Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome from AD 161 until his death in 180, was the philosopher-king envisaged by Plato. A stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius wrote a series of spiritual exercises (now known as his meditations) while engaged on a series of border wars in the Danube region.
His writings, intended only for himself, reveal a mind of great humanity, humility, and insight. For over 2,000 years, these writings have inspired men and women to engage in the philosophical life, which involves two goals: to "know yourself" and then to ask, "What is the right way to live?"