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
greater worth
A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions
alike creatures remembered
All of us are creatures of a day; the rememberer and the remembered alike
men poetry poor presents send
You may send poetry to the rich; to poor men give substantial presents
life thoughts universe
The universe is transformation; our life is what our thoughts make it.
commission sin
There is often a sin of omission as well as of commission
eagerly reflect select sought thou
Think not so much of what thou hast not, as of what thou hast; but of the things which thou hast select the best, and reflect how eagerly they would have been sought if thou hadst them not
doer evil left man wrong
A wrong - doer is often a man that has left something undone, not always he that has done something
connection constantly found mistress proper surprised
As I was constantly told that my mistress Polla indulged in improper connection with a young libertine; I surprised them and found it was as proper as my own
aside cucumber throw turn
A cucumber is bitter.' Throw it away. 'There are briars in the road.' Turn aside from them. This is enough. Do not add, 'And why were such things made in the world?
coming existence hurrying others
Some things are hurrying into existence, and others are hurrying out of it; and of that which is coming into existence part is already extinguished
exist free robber writes
The robber of your free will," writes Epictetus, "does not exist
compared embrace music sexual
The sexual embrace can only be compared with music and with prayer.
allowed content fret grievance instead living measure pounds since substance three time
Do you make a grievance of weighing so many pounds only instead of three hundred? Then why fret about living so many years only, instead of more? Since you are content with the measure of substance allowed you, be so also with the measure of time
cap chap decent face feather foot hair quite
Your face is black, your hair like flame, And one eye's damaged, one foot lame: If, still, you're quite decent chap - Well 'tis a feather in your cap