The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, from private confession and personal spiritual exercise, became a testament, a precious gift, a "monument of the soul", a "possession forever" for future generations. By presenting, through the recording of his thoughts, the image of his soul, it became a timeless model for those who struggle to remain human in difficult times. They were praised, studied, and read as a pre-Christian Gospel, a precursor of the new era that would not be delayed.