Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aureliuswas Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors. He was a practitioner of Stoicism, and his untitled writing, commonly known as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, is the most significant source of our modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth26 April 121
CityRome, Italy
feast hence lately mouths seen sumptuous supper table thy weight
Varus did lately me to supper call, The table sumptuous was, the supper small; Loaden it was with weight of gold, not meat; Much to be seen was served, little to eat; Varus, our mouths not our eyes, to feast we're here; Take hence thy plate, or fil
bear exist men sake teach
Men exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then or bear with them.
perfume rather smell
I would rather smell of nothing than of perfume
father great mind modesty wonder
So great is the modesty of your mind and face, Sophronius that I wonder you should ever have become a father
body endures falter life road shame
Shame on the soul, to falter on the road of life while the body yet endures
agree alike bad husband since wonder
Since you are so well matched, and so much alike - a very bad wife, and a very bad husband - I wonder that you do not agree
advantage break esteem lose shall thee thy word
Never esteem anything as of advantage to thee that shall make thee break thy word or lose thy self-respect.
life merely
Life is not merely being alive, but being well
challenged magnitude
I think if we had the same magnitude of devastation that they had, we would be very much challenged as well,
likes needs none pity
I think he needs our pity who likes none
earth lightly rest thee
Rest lightly on her earth, for she trod never heavily on thee
act dignity life observed performance proper proportion remember
Remember this, - that there is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life
life lives loses man nor remember
Remember that no man loses any other life than this which he now lives, nor lives any other than this which he now loses
life surrender takes
Surrender your life serenely, as serenely as the One who takes it from you