Which languages can I read Marcus Aurelius in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

About 1,538 words in 8 chapters: around 5–15 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.

Ancient Philosophers

Marcus Aurelius

DuoText

An emperor with a notebook: he ruled the whole Roman world and wrote, only for himself, about how to be good.

8 chapters · about 1,500 words · 5–15 min to read.

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How it begins

EnglishGreek

The Boy Called Verissimus

Το αγόρι που το έλεγαν Βηρίσιμο

Marcus Aurelius was born in Rome in the year 121 after Christ. His family was old and rich, and from the beginning he was a serious, calm child. Even as a boy he loved one thing more than games: to learn how to be good.

Ο Μάρκος Αυρήλιος γεννήθηκε στη Ρώμη το έτος 121 μετά Χριστόν. Η οικογένειά του ήταν παλιά και πλούσια, και από την αρχή ήταν ένα σοβαρό, ήρεμο παιδί. Ακόμη και ως αγόρι αγαπούσε ένα πράγμα περισσότερο από τα παιχνίδια: να μαθαίνει πώς να είναι καλός.

The emperor of that time, Hadrian, noticed him and gave him a nickname: Verissimus, which means "the most true". It sounds like a joke, but Hadrian was serious. He saw in the boy a rare honesty.

Ο αυτοκράτορας εκείνης της εποχής, ο Αδριανός, τον πρόσεξε και του έδωσε ένα παρατσούκλι: Βηρίσιμος, που σημαίνει «ο πιο αληθινός». Ακούγεται σαν αστείο, αλλά ο Αδριανός μιλούσε σοβαρά. Είδε στο αγόρι μια σπάνια ειλικρίνεια.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

Marcus Aurelius · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,538 words · ~15 min
Mark Aurel · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,513 words · ~15 min
Μάρκος Αυρήλιος · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,557 words · ~15 min
Marco Aurelio · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,490 words · ~10 min
Marc Aurèle · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,691 words · ~15 min
मार् Marcus Aurelius · HindiB1 Intermediate · 1,816 words · ~15 min
Marcus Aurelius · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 1,456 words · ~10 min
Marco Aurelio · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,511 words · ~15 min
マルクス・アウレリウス · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
마르쿠스 아우렐리우스 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 1,151 words · ~10 min
Marco Aurélio · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,547 words · ~15 min
Marcus Aurelius · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,550 words · ~15 min
Marcus Aurelius · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 1,130 words · ~10 min
马可·奥勒留 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

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Questions

Which languages can I read Marcus Aurelius in?: English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?: The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?: About 1,538 words in 8 chapters: around 5–15 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?: Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?: Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.