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
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
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
bear exist men sake teach
Men exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then or bear with them.
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
declares hooks invitation unless
Philo declares he never dines at home, and that is no exaggeration: He has no place whereat to dine in Rome, Unless he hooks an invitation
book books-and-reading easy hard nicely tis
Tis easy to write epigrams nicely but to write a book is hard
prize second stronger yield
To yield to the stronger is valor's second prize