Simplify the following text for a Grade 11 native English-speaking person.
Original: The meditations serve as an example of how Aurelius approached the Platonic ideal of a philosopher-king and how he symbolized much of what was best about Roman civilization .
Simplified: It serves as an example of how Aurelius approached the Platonic ideal of a philosopherâ `` king , and how he symbolized much of what was best about Roman civilization .