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
break fast rest rock sink stands waters waves
Be like a headland of rock on which the waves break incessantly; but it stands fast and around it the seething of the waters sink to rest
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
aim sin sinners spare writings
In all my writings my aim has been to spare sinners and assail sin
commission sin
There is often a sin of omission as well as of commission
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
pain evil sin
It is a sin to persue pleasure as a good and to avoid pain as a evil.
becoming action sin
The sinner sins against himself; the wrongdoer wrongs himself, becoming the worse by his own action.
single-life soul substance
The universe is a single life comprising one substance and one soul.
equal gone minute ours passing
The passing minute is every man's equal possession, but what has once gone by is not ours
enjoy life past twice
To be able to enjoy one's past life is to live twice
grant greater half lip wilt withhold worth
With only half a lip you kiss, And half of that I ne'er' should miss, A greater boon, of worth untold, Wilt grant me? That whole half withhold
brought came case fever great hands hundred none northern outset students urgency view
When I was ill, you came to me, Doctor, and with great urgency A hundred students brought With you A most instructive case to view The hundred fingered me with hands Chill'd by the blasts of northern lands: Fever at outset had I none I have it, Sir,
call explore plan substance time
There comes a time when you may have to call for help. Do we have a plan of substance in place? Yes. Are there things we need to explore further? Probably. Will we do so? Yes.
ears neck wrap
Why do you wrap up your neck in a woolen muffler when you are going to recite? The muffler would be more suitable for our ears