The Best Translations for Reading Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius
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Welcome to Stoicism Today! This week we are pleased to bring you William O. Stephens’ recommended translations of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. (For similar advice on translations of Cicero and Seneca, see this previous piece by Chris Gill.) Of the great many available translations out there, which are the best and most reliable? Here Stephens offers guidance on selecting the most authoritative versions of these works (as well as some tips on what to avoid).
Choosing a translation of Epictetus or Marcus Aurelius is neither a trivial matter nor is it easy. Ancient Stoic texts are often compressed, technical, and easy to misread when translated too loosely, too archaically, or without notes. Readers should look for editions published by reputable academic or trade presses which are translated by qualified scholars. These editions tend to be supported by introductions, annotations, glossaries, or commentary. Be especially cautious about anonymous, cheaply packaged, or AI-generated editions. Also avoid public-domain translations reprinted without explanation or guidance. Below are some reliable English translations that combine readability with philosophical accuracy.
Epictetus
For many readers new to Stoicism, the obvious place to begin is Epictetus’ Handbook, the smallest package of Stoic thinking available. This spectacularly slender text stands like a 5-hour Energy shot in the beverage aisle of Stoic source writings. But its modest size can be misleading. The Handbook is brief, but it is not simple. Its compressed arguments hide real complexity, invite misunderstanding, and sometimes provoke unfair ridicule.
Readers therefore face a choice between simply reading the Handbook and learning how to read it well. I am not a neutral observer here, since Scott Aikin and I co-authored Epictetus’s Encheiridion: A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics (Bloomsbury Academic, 2023). It is not the quickest route into the Handbook. It is designed for readers who want to take this short text slowly and seriously. Alongside a fresh translation in a contemporary idiom, we offer an accessible introduction to Stoicism, a brief account of the Handbook’s historical influence, chapter-by-chapter commentary, and sustained engagement with common criticisms of Epictetus’ Stoicism and possible replies.
Yet for all its pithy punch, the Handbook distills lessons from Epictetus’ much longer work, the Discourses. An affordable and highly readable entry point to his larger work is Epictetus: Discourses and Selected Writings, translated and edited by Robert Dobbin (Penguin Classics, 2008). Dobbin excels at capturing the candor and verve of Epictetus’ classroom voice in clear, modern prose that never feels stiff or stuffy. For readers new to Stoicism, that matters. Epictetus was not writing polished essays but speaking to students, often bluntly, sometimes humorously, and Dobbin brings that out vividly.
One caution is that this Penguin volume is selective rather than complete, but thoughtfully so. It includes all of Book 1 of the Discourses, substantial portions of Books 2–4, the Fragments, and the complete Handbook (Enchiridion). For most readers, this is more than enough to grasp Epictetus’ core ideas without being overwhelmed. Dobbin also provides a concise introduction, a helpful glossary of names, and brief notes that clarify references without interrupting the flow of reading. This paperback is far superior to many free online translations, which often rely on older public-domain versions whose archaic language can muddy Epictetus’ meaning.
For those wanting a complete edition of Epictetus, two can be recommended. The older is Epictetus: Discourses, Fragments, Handbook, translated by Robin Hard (Oxford World’s Classics, 2014). This volume features an excellent introduction by Christopher Gill, a select bibliography, and a useful chronology of the major events in Epictetus’ life. Compared with Dobbin’s rough-and-tumble tone, Hard’s style is more buttoned-up, but his translation is reliable and judicious. Gill’s explanatory notes are extensive and richly informative, making this edition especially valuable for readers hungry for more historical and philosophical context. The only possible drawback is that readers with old eyes like mine may wish the small print were a bit more generous.
The more recent complete edition is Epictetus: The Complete Works: Handbook, Discourses, and Fragments, edited and translated with introduction and notes by Robin Waterfield (University of Chicago Press, 2022). This volume represents the current state of the art for reading Epictetus in English. Waterfield’s translation is fresh, clear, and attentive to Epictetus’ humor, conversational force, and philosophical bite. The introduction is accessible and informative, and the notes are helpful without overwhelming the reader. The volume also includes a map, textual notes, recommended reading, and an index. Eight black-and-white figures—reproductions of paintings, drawings, and a photograph—supply historical texture to the reading experience. The larger page format and generous print make it a breeze to read.
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus’ Meditations has been translated into English for centuries, but English editions have proliferated especially rapidly over the last eighty years. Still, older translations should not be dismissed simply because they are old. For instance, The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, translated by A. S. L. Farquharson (Oxford University Press, 1990), still stands out. Originally published in 1944, Farquharson’s version can feel dated in idiom, but it is vigorous, intelligent, and often quoted by scholars of Marcus. At times its prose has an almost poetic lilt, which helps explain its continued appeal. An added bonus of this compact paperback, under 200 pages, is its selection from the letters exchanged between Marcus and his Latin rhetoric teacher Fronto. R. B. Rutherford translates these letters and supplies the introduction and notes. If you happen upon a copy, new or used, it is well worth buying.
For readers who want both an excellent translation and sustained guidance through the text, there is only one choice: Marcus Aurelius: The Annotated Edition, translated, introduced, and edited by Robin Waterfield (Basic Books, 2021). Waterfield’s translation is exceptionally clear, readable, and accurate to the Greek. It gives Marcus’ compressed and sometimes jagged notes an intelligible form without sanding away their philosophical density. The introduction situates Marcus within Stoic philosophy and the circumstances of the Meditations’ composition. The annotations also set this edition apart. Each book is prefaced with brief guidance, and the text is accompanied by numerous notes that explain obscure references, clarify Stoic terminology, draw connections across the work, and unpack Marcus’ often compressed reasoning. The result is a translation that is both a pleasure to read and unusually helpful for understanding what Marcus is doing and why. Readers should not be tempted away by cheaper editions or intimidated by the size of Waterfield’s volume. It is absolutely worth owning.
Prices vary by format, retailer, and country, but readers should be able to find all the editions recommended here in reasonably affordable formats.
About the Author
William O. Stephens is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Creighton University and a specialist in Stoicism. His books include Marcus Aurelius: Philosopher-King (Reaktion Books, 2025), Epictetus’s Encheiridion: A New Translation and Guide to Stoic Ethics (Bloomsbury Academic, 2023), co-authored with Scott Aikin, Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed (Continuum/Bloomsbury, 2012), and Stoic Ethics: Epictetus and Happiness as Freedom (Continuum/Bloomsbury, 2007).
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