Publicat? ini?ial, ?n prima edi?ie ?n 1785, cu titlul Grundlegung zur Metaphysik der Sitten, este una dintre cele mai influente crea?ii din ?ntreaga oper? filosofic? a lui Immanuel Kant ?i, totodat?, un reper ?n istoria filosofiei universale. Lucrarea filosofului german cuprinde o prefa??, trei sec?iuni – Trecerea de la cunoa?terea ra?ional? comun? a moravurilor la aceea filosofic?, Trecerea de la ?n?elepciunea moral? popular? la metafizica moravurilor, Trecerea de la metafizica moravurilor la critica ra?iunii pure practice – ?i o remarc? final?, precedate de nota traduc?torului, Valentin Mure?an. ?n prefa??, Kant pledeaz? pentru o metafizic? a moravurilor ?i discut? despre metodologia pe care a folosit-o. El porne?te de la ?mp?r?irea filosofiei grece?ti ?n fizic?, etic? ?i logic?. ?n prima sec?iune, dup? cum ?i titlul sugereaz?, se face trecerea de la forma cunoa?terii comune privind moravurile la cea filosofic?. El discut?, printre altele, despre voin?a bun? ?i datorie. ?n sec?iunea a doua se aprofundeaz? problema imperativelor. ?n ultima sec?iune, Kant discut? despre voin??, libertate. De fapt, cea de-a treia sec?iune reprezint? punctul de pornire de la care Kant a dezvoltat Critica ra?iunii practice, publicat? ?n 1788.

Das Werk, das aus einer Vorrede und drei ?Abhandlungen“ besteht, geh?rt zu den einflussreichsten Schriften Nietzsches. Er legte hier keine Aphorismen vor wie in den meisten anderen seiner Werke, sondern l?ngere, systematische Texte mit durchaus wissenschaftlichem Anspruch: Er stellt darin soziologische, historische und psychologische Thesen auf. Nietzsche wollte anders als klassische Moralphilosophen keine Moral herleiten oder begründen, sondern die geschichtliche Entwicklung und die psychischen Voraussetzungen bestimmter moralischer Wertvorstellungen nachvollziehen. Er fragt also nicht, wie die Menschen handeln sollten, sondern warum Menschen (Einzelne oder Gruppen) glauben, sie sollten auf bestimmte Weise handeln, oder andere dazu bringen wollen, so oder so zu handeln.

„Greu este s? fii bun“. A?a suna verdictul unui filozof presocratic la care m? încruntam abitir pe la 20 de ani. Acum, la 60, dup? ce am înv??at de la aceia?i în?elep?i c? „to?i oamenii sunt r?i“, dar c? „nu trebuie s?-i judeci“, nu m? mai gr?besc cu încruntarea. Doar zâmbesc pu?in ofilit, în dulce resemnare. Cu un astfel de zâmbet – trist, admirativ, îng?duitor ?i comp?timitor totodat? – trebuie întâmpinat (?i f?r? îndoial? iertat) Tomas H., personajul axial din romanul Cameliei Cavadia. Destinat fericirii, dar e?uat lamentabil. Vinovat inocent ?i egofil culpabil. ?i totu?i înseninat, dureros de triumf?tor în final, dup? ce altruismul învinge mizantropia, iar d?ruirea de sine absolv? vinov??ia. În fond, ce ar fi vina f?r? isp??ire? Un roman despre povara fericirii (chiar a?a!) ?i chinul permanent al demonicului de a surpa – prin patologia patimii oarbe – iubirea curat?, armonia conjugal?, farmecul divin al copil?riei ?i nobila condi?ie de p?rinte. Un debut surprinz?tor prin precizia arhitecturii narative ?i siguran?a rotirii caruselului cu multe ?i subtile rela?ii psihologice. În plus, îmbucur?tor prin op?iunea preponderent moral?, într-o vreme dominat? de anarhie, relativism ?i etic? în r?sp?r. – Dan C. Mih?ilescu ?„De când m? ?tiu am vrut s? devin scriitoare. PR de meserie, am scris pove?tile altora, dar mi-am dat seama c? am în?untrul meu propriile pove?ti care a?teapt? s? le dau via??. Tot ceea ce am f?cut pîn? acum a roit în jurul cuvintelor. Prin prisma meseriei mele, am scris sute de comunicate, am luat zeci de interviuri, m-am trezit cu zeci de fraze construite-n cap ?i am adormit cu altele bâzâindu-mi în ureche. Am hot?rât ca e timpul s?-mi urmez visul ?i s? devin ceea ce m-am sim?it mereu.“ – Camelia Cavadia

Volumul cuprinde dou? traduceri clasicizate, semnate de Victor Scorade?, Dincolo de bine ?i de r?u, ?i de Janina Iano?i ?i Horia Stanca, Genealogia moralei. Un mare vinovat f?r? vin?, sihastrul de la Sils-Maria a dinamitat g?ndirea secolului al XIX-lea, figur?nd – al?turi de Dostoievski – printre uria?ii profe?i ai omenirii, care au proorocit nenorocirile ce-au urmat, crimele ?n numele unei idei, rasismul, precum ?i devastatorul totalitarism ro?u. Dincolo de bine ?i de r?u e una dintre capodoperele g?nditorului german.

The Doctrine of the Mean is a text rich with symbolism and guidance to perfecting oneself. The person who follows the mean is on a path of duty and must never leave it. A superior person is cautious, a gentle teacher and shows no contempt for his or her inferiors.

On the defeat of Pharnaces and reduction of Africa, those who escaped from those battles fled to young Cn. Pompey, who had taken possession of Further Spain, while Caesar was detained in Italy in exhibiting games. Pompey began to throw himself on the protection of every state, in order the more readily to establish the means of defense against him. Accordingly, with a considerable force which had been collected, partly by entreaty, partly by force, he began to lay waste the province. Under these circumstances some states voluntarily sent him supplies, others shut the gates of their towns against him. If any of these chanced to fall into his hands by assault, although some citizen in it had deserved well of Cn. Pompey (his father), yet some cause was alleged against him on account of the greatness of his wealth, so that, he being dispatched, his fortune might become the reward of the soldiers.

While these things were going forward in Spain, Caius Trebonius, Caesar's lieutenant, who had been left to conduct the assault of Massilia, began to raise a mound, vineae, and turrets against the town, on two sides; one of which was next the harbor and docks, the other on that part where there is a passage from Gaul and Spain to that sea which forces itself up the mouth of the Rhone. For Massilia is washed almost on three sides by the sea, the remaining fourth part is the only side which has access by land.

Areopagitica is among history's most influential and impassioned philosophical defences of the principle of a right to freedom of speech and expression. Today, Areopagitica is regarded as one of the most eloquent defences of press freedom ever written – and as one of the most influential, because many of its expressed principles have formed the basis for modern justifications.

Of all the writings of Plato the Timaeus is the most obscure and repulsive to the modern reader, and has nevertheless had the greatest influence over the ancient and mediaeval world. The obscurity arises in the infancy of physical science, out of the confusion of theological, mathematical, and physiological notions, out of the desire to conceive the whole of nature without any adequate knowledge of the parts, and from a greater perception of similarities which lie on the surface than of differences which are hidden from view.

《西方美学史》是朱光潜先生*重要的一部美学著作，也是我国学者撰写的*部西方美学史专著。全书分为上下两卷，对公元前6世纪到20世纪初的西方美学思想发展历史作了全面、系统的论述。具有丰富的史料价值和开创性的学术价值，代表着中国研究西方美学思想的水平。长期作为高等学校文科教材使用，被许多学者认为是迄今国内学者撰写的同类著作中*好的一部。行文深入浅出，通俗晓畅，广受读者欢迎，是一部不朽的美学经典。

Geli?mi?li?in ??karsamalar?nda ilk akla gelen ?l?üt, meden? olarak ilerleme kaydetti?ini iddi? eden, d??avurumcu insanlar toplulu?unun bencil yap?la?mas?ndan ge?mektedir. Ara?t?rmalar sonucunda elde edilebilen, g?rsel, i?itsel, yaz?l?, ar?iv v.b tüm veriler do?rultusunda ayd?nlat?lm?? ger?ekler düny?si mevcuttur. Asalak olarak hayata tutunmaya ?al??an, ?z bireyci katmanlar?n en alt?na indirgenmi? insan say?lan varl?klar?n, niteliksel ?zelliklerle ?a?a tutunmas? imk?nsizdir. "En ?ok ben kazanay?m." s?yleminden yola ??karak, rahatl?k ve konforun adresinde bulu?an simbiyoz ya?ant?lar?n; ?a?d??? kalm??, kendi dü?üncesi h?ricindekileri yok sayan, ?ok katmanl? yüzeysel düny?s?nda gezinmenin verdi?i ferahl?k, bir?ok insan? cezbederek, ?ekilsiz ya?ant? portrelerini bilfiil olu?turmu?tur. Dü?ünceleri ve mevc?diyeti ?imento ile kaplanan nesillerin, zenginlik saltanat?na ayak ba?? olmas?ndan korkan erkin, katmerli yapt?r?mlar? bulunmaktad?r. D??s?z kalm?? medeniyetin, ??karsamalarla dolu ??karc? düny?s?nda, kendine en ufak bir yer edinimini ba?ar? sayan birey, ya?ant? düny?sinin ger?ek yüzeyine ula?t??? i?in mutlu olmal? m?d?r? G?rülen ve g?sterilen, verilen, yapt?r?lan tüm edimlerin ve edinimlerin, do?rultusunda, bireyin ??karc? sistem adamlar? ile yapt??? yolculu?a dikkat etmesi gerekir. Ritüel h?line gelmi?, paradoksal d?ngüde her d?im ba?lad??? yerden farkl? bir sona ula?mas? gereken yolculu?u yapan bireyin de, beklentisi bu olan macer?s?nda, üzüntü ve yenilgi verici sonucun, ayn? ?ekilde ikinci, ü?üncü defa ger?ekle?mesi ve ?o?u insan?n, bunun fark?ndal???nda olmay???n?n verdi?i bocalamayla ge?en ?mrünün c?resizli?inde ??rp?nmas? ve bo?ulmas? an meselesidir. Yapt?r?mlar yapt?r?mlar?, bilgisizlik ve c?hillik yeni olu?umlar? tetikleyecektir. ?nemli olan her insan?n asl?nda bir paradoks denkleminde, paradoks yolunda oldu?unu bilmesi ve ba?lad??? noktaya geldi?inde, nas?l bir düzenin i?erisinde ritüel yapt???n?n fark?nda olmas? gerekmektedir. Naz?re davran??lar?, sistem i?erisinde en az?ndan denemek, ayn? dü?üncede bulunan insanlar? bir araya getirmek ?artt?r. Ulusal bilincin her d?im uyan?k tutulmas?, paradokslarla sava??n en mükemmel ?rneklerinden birini olu?turacakt?r. ?nsan?n kat etti?i yol da, bu s?yede dünden kopu?un de?il, yar?n?n güvence alt?na al?nmas?n? tetikleyecektir. Yar?n? güvence alt?na al?nan bireyler de; kof, mesnetsiz, yalan ve riy?karl??a dayal? sistemleri ??kertme ve kendi hastal?kl? sistemlerini dayatmaya ?al??an ?o?unlu?un, katmerli ezici üstünlü?ü alt?nda direni? g?stermenin, mutlak gayreti i?erisinde olacakt?r. ?nsan?n yahut insanl???n bu eylemi ger?ekle?tirmeye ?al??mas?n?, en az?ndan denemesini diliyorum. N??M ONUR TEZMEN, 2013 MUSTAFA VE AY?E Mustafa’ya g?re; canl?lar?n, kompleks ya?am süreci i?erisinde, kabullenebilir davran?? grafi?ini topluma uydurmak ve o uyumu devam ettirme g?revi, bireysel sorumluluk gerektirmekteydi. Toplum i?erisindeki statüsünü belirleyen birtak?m rolleri üstlenen bireyin, davran?? biliminde girece?i rollerin karma?as?na kap?lmadan, gerekli ve ?l?ülü davran??, sosyal bilim do?rulu?u vey? bu do?rulu?a en yak?n olmay? gerektiren tüm birle?imler; bireyin ?zünü, karakterini ve bili?sel zek?sini olu?turmaktayd?. En az?ndan Mustafa'n?n dü?ünceleri ?????nda, akl?n? yordu?u; bilgi, kültür, gelenek ve g?renek birikimi ile a??klamas? buydu. Varolu?unun aksine, ayn? y?nde kürek ?ekmesine ba?l? olan ya?amsal uzamda, kendi do?ruluk pay?n? olu?turmas? ve bu pay?, ?evresindeki insanlara sunmas?, ona zevkli bir hus? veriyordu. Mustafa’ya g?re bilgelik, kazan?lan tecrübelerle birlikte, birikimlerin, paralel vey? ayn? düzlem i?erisinde hareket ettirebilmenin yoluydu. Bundan ??karacak ders de, birine bir do?ruyu empoze etmeden, ikn? k?biliyetini, ki?inin benzer birle?imlerinde ivme kazanan ara?lar gibi haz?rlamak ve var??a ondan ?nce vararak, kendi do?rusunun en yak?n bile?enine, kar??s?ndaki insan? ?ekebilmekti.

Cum a fost ?nceputul, de unde ?i de ce a venit Universul la fiin??? Cine a creat, de fapt, via?a pe P?m?nt ?i cum va fi Sf?r?itul? Ce se ?nt?mpl? atunci c?nd murim ?i unde ajungem dup? aceea? ?i, la urma urmei, ce contur trebuie s?-i d?m vie?ii noastre dac? Dumnezeu nu exist?? Miturile ?i speran?ele noastre ofer? r?spunsuri convenabile, dar periculoase, la aceste ?ntreb?ri ?ntruc?t ?ntre?in iluzii care ne sporesc, ?n realitate, angoasa ?i la?itatea. Avem, totu?i, o alternativ?: apelul la metodele ?i descoperirile ?tiin?ei pentru a repune lucrurile ?i problemele ?n contextul din care au fost decupate din ignoran?? sau din r?utate. Despre via?? ?i moarte reabiliteaz? acest tip de demers ?ntr-un periplu scris cu umor, dar ?i cu seriozitate, cu elegan??, dar ?i cu duio?ie.

Antropologie ?i antroposofie ? Max Dessoir despre antroposofie ? Franz BrentanoAlc?tuind cuprinsul acestei lucr?ri, Rudolf Steiner reveleaz? ?c?teva din firele ?tiin?ifice care trebuie trasate pornind de la antropozofie la filozofie, la psihologie ?i la fiziologie“. Cunoa?terea omului va trebui atunci s? fie extins? ?in?nd cont de enigmaticele aspecte ale vie?ii sale interioare, privite din perspective multiple. ?n aceast? carte, Rudolf Steiner prezint? ?n scris aspectele semnificative ale configur?rii ?ntreite a fiin?ei omene?ti: corpul fizic, organismul sufletesc ?i configura?ia spiritual?.

Adam Smith (1723-1790) este p?rintele g?ndirii economice moderne. ?n volumul de fa?? au fost culese c?teva dintre cele mai importante capitole din lucrarea care a marcat ?nceputurile disciplinare ale unui domeniu pentru care ast?zi se acord? Premiul Nobel, dar ?i paragraful care ofer? cititorului o explica?ie sintetic? a conceptului pentru care autorul va r?m?ne ?n istorie: m?na invizibil?. Chiar daca unele concepte-cheie ale teoriei g?nditorului sco?ian par dep??ite, ?n esen?a observa?iile ?i explica?iile sale privitoare la natura economic? a socialului r?m?n c?t se poate de subtile ?i conving?toare.

Aceasta este prima lucrare scris? ?n limba rom?n? care se concentreaz? asupra operei lui Thomas Kuhn, probabil cel mai influent filosof al ?tiin?ei din ultima jum?tate a secolului trecut. ?n particular, lucrarea analizeaz? ?n detaliu, ?ntr-o manier? original?, o idee foarte provocatoare a filosofului american, teza incomensurabilit??ii conceptuale, conform c?reia, ?n dezvoltarea cunoa?terii ?tiin?ifice, teoriile noi utilizeaz? un limbaj ireductibil la cel al teoriilor anterioare. Totodat?, lucrarea se apleac? ?ntr-o manier? sistematic? asupra conceptului de paradigm?, introdus de Kuhn, care avea s? fie utilizat ulterior pe scar? larg? ?n filosofie ?i ?tiin?ele sociale.

Ce este adev?rul? De unde ?tiu cine sunt? De ce ar trebui s? fim buni? Exist? multe c?r?i despre filosofie. Cu toate acestea, Cine sunt eu? difer? fa?? de celelalte lucr?ri de introducere ?n filosofie. Nimeni nu a reu?it p?n? acum s? pun? cititorul fa??-n fa?? cu marile ?ntreb?ri ale omenirii ?ntr-o manier? at?t de documentat?, de competent? ?i, ?n acela?i timp, cu umor ?i cu elegan??. Prezenta lucrare reprezint? o c?l?torie unic? prin noianul de cuno?tin?e pe care le avem despre om. Precht ne prezint? tot ceea ce este mai nou ?n neuro?tiin??, ?n psihologie ?i ?n filosofie. Fie c? pleac? ?n cercetarea sensului vie?ii pornind de la analiza unui episod din Star Trek sau de la melodia Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds a celor de la Beatles, cartea ne pune ?n fa?a unui traseu captivant, ?n care vom descoperi cele mai surprinz?toare lucruri despre noi ?n?ine.

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) este cunoscut publicului larg ca autor al C?l?toriilor lui Gulliver. A fost considerat de mul?i un mizantrop des?v?r?it, de?i a f?cut parte din clerul Bisericii Anglicane. Va r?m?ne ?ns? ?n istorie ca primul pamfletar de limba englez?. Povestea unui poloboc este cea mai consistent? lucrare de acest gen, de care ?nsu?i autorul s-a declarat ?ntotdeauna foarte satisf?cut. ?n aceast? ?poveste“ satiristul irlandez ne propune o ingenioas? alegorie, ?n egal? m?sur? un atac la adresa bisericilor occidentale care au pervertit p?n? la desfigurare credin?a mo?tenit? de la biserica primar? ?i la adresa modelor care au infestat at?t operele spiritului, c?t ?i discursul teologic.Pus? la index la vremea apari?iei ei de regina Ana a Angliei din cauza nest?p?nitelor ?arje la adresa papismului ?i a puritanismului britanic, considerat? un text ?reac?ionar“ ?n Rom?nia epocii lui Ceau?escu, aceast? carte nu este, cu siguran??, o lectur? confortabil?, dar r?m?ne una dintre cele mai spumoase ?i mai fine satire scrise vreodat?.

Volumul de fa?? cuprinde trei eseuri ale autorului francez despre ,,r?sul provocat ?n mod special de c?tre comic“. Acestea au la baz? ideile urm?toare: comicul este uman, r?sul are nevoie de o deta?are emo?ional? fa?? de obiectul/subiectul vizat, r?sul are o func?ie social?. Autorul exploreaz? diferite ipostaze ale comicului ?n art? sau ?n via?a de zi cu zi ?n func?ie de cauza care a produs efectul respectiv. Un om care se ?mpiedic? ?i cade poate st?rni r?sul trec?torilor. ?n aceast? situa?ie comicul survine ca urmare a rigidit??ii mecanice a personajului care a c?zut pentru nu a putut evita un obstacol. ?i o diformitate poate st?rni r?sul, ?nsa una care poate fi imitat? de o persoan? care nu are acea diformitate. Exist? ?i un comic al mi?c?rilor, de exemplu, gesturile unui orator. ?n cel de-al doilea capitol, autorul analizeaz? alt? dou? categorii: comicul de situa?ie ?i pe cel de limbaj. ?n fine, al treilea capitol este consacrat comicului de caracter. Anexa de la sf?r?itul lucr?rii curprinde o scurt? discu?ie despre defini?iile comicului, dar ?i despre metoda utilizat? de autor ?n cele trei capitole. Comicul ?ine de aceast? dimensiune a persoanei prin care se seam?n? cu un lucru, acest aspect al evenimentelor umane care imit? prin rigiditatea sa de un fel cu totul spe-cial, mecanismul pur ?i simplu, automatismul, de fapt mi?carea f?r? via??. El exprim?, a?adar, o imperfec?iune individual? sau colectiv? care necesit? o corec?ie imediat?. R?sul este ?ns??i aceast? corec?ie. R?sul este un anumit tip de gest social care subliniaz? ?i reprim? o distragere special? a oamenilor ?i evenimentelor.

Publicat? ini?ial, ?n trei articole, ?n 1861, o lucrare fundamental?, cu o influen?? de necontestat ?n domeniul ?tiin?elor sociale, Utilitarismul lui J.S.Mill cuprinde o serie de discu?ii despre principiile care stau la baza doctrinei filosofice a utilitarismului. Structura lucr?rii, cu cinci capitole clare ?i concise (Considera?ii generale, Ce este utilitarismul, Despre sanc?iunea fundamental? a principiului utilit??ii, De ce fel de demonstra?ie este susceptibil principiul utilit??ii, Despre leg?tura dintre dreptate ?i utilitate), este elegant? ?i faciliteaz? ?n?elegerea ideilor aprofundate de g?nditorul englez. ?ntr-un sens, Utilitarismul reprezint? o rafinare a ideilor lui Jeremy Bentham despre ceea ce ar trebui s? constituie m?sura binelui ?i a r?ului: exigen?a de a ob?ine cea mai mare fericire pentru un num?r c?t mai mare de oameni. ?ntr-un alt sens, mai larg ?i mai important, cartea de fa?? formuleaz? ?i analizeaz? ?n profunzime toate implica?iile, pentru moral?, ale principiului utilit??ii. John Stuart Mill aduce etica ?n vecin?tatea economiei (maximizarea fericirii, ierarhizarea pl?cerilor ?n func?ie de profit, decizia bazat? pe calcularea utilit??ii alternativelor etc.) ?i ?ncearc? s? rezolve toate dificult??ile rezultate din acest mod de a trata problema drept??ii. Mill ofer? r?spunsuri la c?teva ?ntreb?ri esen?iale precum: ,,?n ce const? fericirea?“, ,,Ce urm?rim, de fapt, atunci c?nd alegem o anumit? conduit??“, ,,Ce pl?ceri sunt preferabile?“, ,,Cum trebuie s? arate legile (?i sanc?iunile inerente) dac? morala se ?ntemeieaz? pe utilitate?“, ,,De ce este preferabil principiul utilit??ii, at?t din perspectiva binelui personal, c?t ?i din aceea a binelui public?“

Magyarázatok a Srimad-Bhagavatam tizedik éneke harminckettedik fejezetének 16-22. versáhez, az el?z? acaryák írásai alapján. A Na pāraye ’ham három része ?rī K???a, ?rī Caitanya Mahāprabhu és ?rīmatī Rādhārā?ī szeretetét mutatja be. Szeretetük egy-egy hatalmas folyóként h?mp?ly?g a prema óceánja felé. ?cāryáink kegyéb?l a bhakták megérinthetik ennek az óceánnak a partját, s néhány cseppnyi nektárt megízlelhetnek bel?le.

Such is the system which underlies the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Some knowledge of it is necessary to the right understanding of the book, but for us the chief interest lies elsewhere. We do not come to Marcus Aurelius for a treatise on Stoicism. He is no head of a school to lay down a body of doctrine for students; he does not even contemplate that others should read what he writes. His philosophy is not an eager intellectual inquiry, but more what we should call religious feeling. The uncompromising stiffness of Zeno or Chrysippus is softened and transformed by passing through a nature reverent and tolerant, gentle and free from guile; the grim resignation which made life possible to the Stoic sage becomes in him almost a mood of aspiration. His book records the innermost thoughts of his heart, set down to ease it, with such moral maxims and reflections as may help him to bear the burden of duty and the countless annoyances of a busy life. It is instructive to compare the Meditations with another famous book, the Imitation of Christ. There is the same ideal of self-control in both. It should be a man's task, says the Imitation, 'to overcome himself, and every day to be stronger than himself.' 'In withstanding of the passions standeth very peace of heart.' 'Let us set the axe to the root, that we being purged of our passions may have a peaceable mind.' To this end there must be continual self-examination. 'If thou may not continually gather thyself together, namely sometimes do it, at least once a day, the morning or the evening. In the morning purpose, in the evening discuss the manner, what thou hast been this day, in word, work, and thought.' But while the Roman's temper is a modest self-reliance, the Christian aims at a more passive mood, humbleness and meekness, and reliance on the presence and personal friendship of God. The Roman scrutinises his faults with severity, but without the self-contempt which makes the Christian 'vile in his own sight.' The Christian, like the Roman, bids 'study to withdraw thine heart from the love of things visible'; but it is not the busy life of duty he has in mind so much as the contempt of all worldly things, and the 'cutting away of all lower delectations.' Both rate men's praise or blame at their real worthlessness; 'Let not thy peace,' says the Christian, 'be in the mouths of men.' But it is to God's censure the Christian appeals, the Roman to his own soul. The petty annoyances of injustice or unkindness are looked on by each with the same magnanimity. 'Why doth a little thing said or done against thee make thee sorry? It is no new thing; it is not the first, nor shall it be the last, if thou live long. At best suffer patiently, if thou canst not suffer joyously.' The Christian should sorrow more for other men's malice than for our own wrongs; but the Roman is inclined to wash his hands of the offender. 'Study to be patient in suffering and bearing other men's defaults and all manner infirmities,' says the Christian; but the Roman would never have thought to add, 'If all men were perfect, what had we then to suffer of other men for God?' The virtue of suffering in itself is an idea which does not meet us in the Meditations. Both alike realise that man is one of a great community. 'No man is sufficient to himself,' says the Christian; 'we must bear together, help together, comfort together.' But while he sees a chief importance in zeal, in exalted emotion that is, and avoidance of lukewarmness, the Roman thought mainly of the duty to be done as well as might be, and less of the feeling which should go with the doing of it. To the saint as to the emperor, the world is a poor thing at best. 'Verily it is a misery to live upon the earth,' says the Christian; few and evil are the days of man's life, which passeth away suddenly as a shadow. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?*** ? "MARCUS AURELIUS ANTONINUS" was born on April 26, A.D. 121. His real name was M. Annius Verus, and he was sprung of a noble family which claimed descent from Numa, second King of Rome. Thus the most religious of emperors came of the blood of the most pious of early kings. His father, Annius Verus, had held high office in Rome, and his grandfather, of the same name, had been thrice Consul. Both his parents died young, but Marcus held them in loving remembrance. On his father's death Marcus was adopted by his grandfather, the consular Annius Verus, and there was deep love between these two. On the very first page of his book Marcus gratefully declares how of his grandfather he had learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. The Emperor Hadrian divined the fine character of the lad, whom he used to call not Verus but Verissimus, more Truthful than his own name. He advanced Marcus to equestrian rank when six years of age, and at the age of eight made him a member of the ancient Salian priesthood. The boy's aunt, A