The Daily Stoic Why “Meditations” Needs a New Name—According to William O. Stephens
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Apr 25, 2026 
William O. Stephens, a Stoicism scholar and professor emeritus at Creighton, digs into why Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations may have the wrong title. He explores the book as a loose notebook of reminders, how translations reshape Marcus’s voice, and why Marcus was neither saint nor villain. They also get into death, power, mercy, and the puzzle of Commodus.
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Why Memoranda Fits Marcus Better Than Meditations
- William O. Stephens argues Meditations is a later editorial label and Memoranda better fits Marcus Aurelius’s self-reminders.
- The Greek manuscripts had no title, and memory recurs throughout the work as Marcus rehearses doctrines he must remember daily.
Why You Can Read Marcus In Any Order
- William O. Stephens sees Book 1 as a dedication, but says Books 2 through 12 can be read in almost any order.
- Marcus repeats the same themes like death and change across the notebook, giving it the feel of undated campaign journal entries.
Joan Didion Helps Explain Why Marcus Still Lands
- Ryan Holiday compares Marcus’s notebook to Joan Didion’s private Notes to John, where great writing shines through even when not meant for publication.
- William O. Stephens says translations radically change Marcus, criticizing Gregory Hays as poetic but often unfaithful and praising Robin Waterfield’s Greek precision.
