Hays avoids archaic language, making Marcus’s private journals feel like a direct conversation with the reader.
For the uninitiated: The Meditations is a series of 12 books written by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius during his bloody campaigns against the Germanic tribes. It is the private notebook of the most powerful man on earth, reminding himself to be humble, disciplined, and indifferent to pain and pleasure. Hays avoids archaic language
Remember that life is short ( Memento Mori ) to stay focused on what matters. reminding himself to be humble
"You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think." (Book 2) Hays avoids archaic language