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
bald digging guest hairs head lower middle mouth teeth three
The guest at the lower end of the middle couch, with three hairs on his bald head and his scalp streaked with pigment, who is digging in his big mouth with a toothpick, is a fraud, Aefulanus, He has no teeth
great man small wish
You wish to appear, Cotta, a pretty man and a great man at one and the same time: but he who is a pretty man, Cotta, is a very small man
circle eternity forms round
All things from eternity are of like forms and come round in a circle
flaw greater hidden
The flaw which is hidden is deemed greater than it is
folk night stars thou thy
Come, Caesar, even by night - let stars delay; If thou but come, thy folk will find it day
acceptance judgement events
Objective judgement, now, at this very moment. Unselfish action, now, at this very moment. Willing acceptance - now, at this very moment - of all external events. That's all you need.
running time recovery
Remember how often you have postponed minding your interest, and let slip those opportunities the gods have given you. It is now high time to consider what sort of world you are part of, and from what kind of governor of it you are descended; that you have a set period assigned you to act in, and unless you improve it to brighten and compose your thoughts, it will quickly run off with you, and be lost beyond recovery.
morning men action
When you find an unwillingness to rise early in the morning, endeavor to rouse your faculties, and act up to your kind, and consider that you have to do the business of a man; and that action is both beneficial and the end of your being.
forgiveness ignorance men
It is right that man should love those who have offended him. He will do so when he remembers that all men are his relations, and that it is through ignorance and involuntarily that they sin,--and then we all die so soon.
time hands years
Be not as one that hath ten thousand years to live; death is nigh at hand: while thou livest, while thou hast time, be good.
beauty faces looks
An angry look on the face is wholly against nature. If it be assumed frequently, beauty begins to perish, and in the end is quenched beyond rekindling.
love littles trade
Love the little trade which thou hast learned, and be content therewith.
wisdom ignorance persistence
I seek the truth...it is only persistence in self-delusion and ignorance that does harm.
words-of-wisdom enemy kind
The noblest kind of retribution is not to become like your enemy.