Marcus Aurelius Quotes
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He was a man who looked at what ought to be done, not to the reputation which is got by a man's acts
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Always take the short cut; and that is the rational one. Therefore say and do everything according to soundest reason.
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Only to the rational animal is it given to follow voluntarily what happens; but simply to follow is a necessity imposed on all.
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In the case of all things which have a certain constitution, whatever harm may happen to any of them, that which is affected becomes consequently worse; but in like case, a man becomes both better... and more worthy of praise, by making the right use of these accidents.
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Socrates used to call the opinions of the many by the name of Lamiae, bugbears to frighten children.
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The lot assigned to every man is suited to him, and suits him to itself.
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That which comes after ever conforms to that which has gone before.
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Things that have a common quality ever quickly seek their kind.
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Doth perfect beauty stand in need of praise at all? Nay; no more than law, no more than truth, no more than loving kindness, nor than modesty.
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To live each day as though one's last, never flustered, never apathetic, never attitudinizing – here is perfection of character.
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Direct thy attention to what is said. Let thy understanding enter into the things that are doing and the things which do them.
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Οἷς συγκεκλήρωσαι πράγμασι, τούτοις συνάρμοζε σεαυτόν, καὶ οἷς συνείληχας ἀνθρώποις, τούτους φίλει, ἀλλ ἀληθινῶς.
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Look within. Within is the fountain of the good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig.
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It is a base thing for the countenance to be obedient and to regulate and compose itself as the mind commands, and for the mind not to be regulated and composed by itself.
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Rememberest the gods, and that they wish not to be flattered, but wish all reasonable beings to be made like themselves; and... rememberest that what does the work of a fig-tree is a fig-tree, and that what does the work of a dog is a dog, and that what does the work of a bee is a bee, and that what does the work of a man is a man.
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That which makes the man no worse than he was makes his life no worse: it has no power to harm, without or within.
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How many, once lauded in song, are given over to the forgotten; and how many who sung their praises are clean gone long ago!
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If thou canst see sharp, look and judge wisely, says the philosopher.
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The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts. (Hays translation)
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In the case of most pains let this remark of Epicurus aid thee, that the pain is neither intolerable nor everlasting, if thou bear in mind that it has its limits, and if thou addest nothing to it in imagination...
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And virtue they will curse, speaking harsh words.
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If the gods care not for me and for my children, There is a reason for it.
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Look at everything that exists, and observe that it is already in dissolution and change, and as it were putrefaction or dispersion, or that everything is so constituted in nature as to die.
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How easy it is to repel and to wipe away every impression which is troublesome or unsuitable, and immediately to be in all tranquility.