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
true-joy people community
The true joy of humankind is in doing that which is most proper to our nature; and the first property of people is to be kindly affected towards them that are of one kind with ourselves.
community mind vision
Let your one delight and refreshment be to pass from one service to the community to another, with God ever in mind.
community action social
Since you are an integral part of a social system, let every act of yours contribute to the harmonization of social life. Any action that is not related directly or remotely to this social aim disturbs your life, and destroys your unity.
two giving community
Always follow these two rules: first, act only on what your reasoning mind proposes for the good of humanity, and second, change your opinion if someone shows you it's wrong. This change of mind must proceed only from the conviction that it's both correct and for the common good, but not because it will give you pleasure and make you popular.
aim sin sinners spare writings
In all my writings my aim has been to spare sinners and assail sin
amount hundred man misfortune reading satisfied satisfy
No amount of misfortune will satisfy the man who is not satisfied with reading a hundred epigrams
order prepared
I mean, you never know how these things are going to go, but I always want to be prepared that I have everything in order so if I need to go then I can. Because, obviously, if there's not electric, there's not gas.
enjoy life man quick
No man is quick enough to enjoy life
formed happens man nature
Nothing happens to any man which he is not formed by nature to bear.
account full gratitude remember
Take full account of what excellencies which you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not.
accept court declining favor gave grave invitation reason repay socrates wish
Socrates gave as his reason for declining an invitation to the court of Perdiccas, "I have no wish to go down to my grave with ignominy;" implying that he would accept no favor which he could not repay
act execute last life though thy
Execute every act of life as though it were thy last
feast hence lately mouths seen sumptuous supper table thy weight
Varus did lately me to supper call, The table sumptuous was, the supper small; Loaden it was with weight of gold, not meat; Much to be seen was served, little to eat; Varus, our mouths not our eyes, to feast we're here; Take hence thy plate, or fil
astonished fraud frequently friend good learn man regard
Are you astonished Aulus, that our friend Fabullinus is so frequently deceived? A good man has always something to learn in regard to fraud