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
mistake stress thinking
When you are annoyed at someone's mistake, immediately look at yourself and reflect how you also fail; for example, in thinking that good equals money, or pleasure, or a bit of fame. By being mindful of this you'll quickly forget your anger, especially if you realize that the person was under stress, and could do little else. And, if you can, find a way to alleviate that stress.
strength men dust
Man must be arched and buttressed from within, else the temple wavers to the dust.
wise lying wellspring
Dig within. There lies the wellspring of good.
pride reluctance fortune
Receive the gifts of fortune without pride, and part with them without reluctance.
done undone persons
The wrongdoer is often the person who left something undone, rather than the person who has done something
meditation sake bears
Humans have come into being for the sake of each other, so either teach them, or learn to bear them.
Nothing is worth doing pointlessly.
life stories may
Take it that you have died today, and your life's story is ended; and henceforward regard what future time may be given you as uncovenanted surplus, and live it out in harmony with nature.
soul unhappy causes
Failure to read what is happening in another's soul is not easily seen as a cause of unhappiness: but those who fail to attend the motions of their own soul are necessarily unhappy.
stoicism thrive feels
Choose not to be harmed and you won't feel harmed. Don't feel harmed and you haven't been.
children names opinion
Socrates used to call the opinions of the many by the name of Lamiae, bugbears to frighten children.
divinity serene take-me
Take me and cast me where you will; I shall still be possessor of the divinity within me, serene and content.
evil doe injustice
Whoever does wrong, wrongs himself; whoever does injustice, does it to himself, making himself evil.
philosophical loving-yourself self-acceptance
Be content to seem what you really are.