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
life-is-short life-is
Life is short. That's all there is to say. Get what you can from the present - thoughtfully, justly.
men dying fortunate
There is no man so fortunate that there shall not be by him when he is dying some who are pleased with what is going to happen.
life-is-short people important
Life is short. Do not forget about the most important things in our life, living for other people and doing good for them.
thinking breathe enjoy
To breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
way human-nature wrong-time
My only fear is doing something contrary to human nature - the wrong thing, the wrong way, or at the wrong time.
over-you tunes lasts
When you have been compelled by circumstances to be disturbed in any manner, quickly return to yourself, and do not continue out of tune longer than the compulsion lasts. You will have increasing control over your own harmony by continually returning to it.
cooperation born
We are born for cooperation
thinking attention use
He who pays no attention to what his neighbor does, says or thinks, preferring to concentrate on making his own actions appropriate and justifiable, better uses his time.
morning defining bed
When you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, remember that your defining characteristic-what defines a human being-is to work with others.
men duty
It is the duty of men to love even those who injure them.
giving needs
Each of us needs what nature gives us, when nature gives us.
past hands imagination
Don't let your imagination to be crushed by life as a whole. Don't try to pictures everything bad that could possibly happen. Stick with the situation at hand. ...Then remind yourself that past and present have no power over you. Only the present.
horse vines sun
Everything is here for a purpose, from horses to vine shoots. What's surprising about that? Even the sun will tell you, "I have a purpose," and the other goods as well.
stupid people way
If it's in your control, why do you do it? If it's in someone else's control, then who are you blaming? Atoms? The gods? Stupid either way. Blame no one. Set people straight, if you can. If not, just repair the damage.