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
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
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
burying delight fingers gold great legs poor pound rings setting suited thus using weight
Zoilus, why do you delight in using a whole pound weight of gold for the setting of a stone, and thus burying your poor sardonyx? Such rings are more suited to your legs the weight is too great for fingers
add carved finely fish relief swim
You see these fish carved finely in relief by Phidian art? Add water; they will swim
deny violated
You say, Senca, that you were violated by robbers, but the robbers deny it
life thoughts
Your life is what your thoughts make it.
hair legs manliness mind shows signs
Your legs and breast bristle with shaggy hair but your mind, Pannicus, shows no signs of manliness
men poetry poor presents send
You may send poetry to the rich; to poor men give substantial presents
commission sin
There is often a sin of omission as well as of commission
life thoughts universe
The universe is transformation; our life is what our thoughts make it.
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
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
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