Marcus Aurelius Quotes
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The lot assigned to every man is suited to him, and suits him to itself.
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γεγόναμεν γὰρ πρὸς συνεργίαν ὡς πόδες, ὡς χεῖρες, ὡς βλέφαρα, ὡς οἱ στοῖχοι τῶν ἄνω καὶ κάτω ὀδόντων. τὸ οὖν ἀντιπράσσειν ἀλλήλοις παρὰ φύσιν.
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He would be the finer gentleman that should leave the world without having tasted of lying or pretence of any sort, or of wantonness or conceit.
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Things that have a common quality ever quickly seek their kind.
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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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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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Deem not life a thing of consequence. For look at the yawning void of the future, and at that other limitless space, the past.
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Thou art a little soul bearing about a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
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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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Look within. Within is the fountain of the good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig.
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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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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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That which comes after ever conforms to that which has gone before.
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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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Constantly and, if it be possible, on the occasion of every impression on the soul, apply to it the principles of Physic, of Ethic, and of Dialectic.
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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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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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If the gods care not for me and for my children, There is a reason for it.
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Live with the gods.
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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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Art thou angry with him whose arm-pits stink? art thou angry with him whose mouth smells foul? What good will this anger do thee?
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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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How easy it is to repel and to wipe away every impression which is troublesome or unsuitable, and immediately to be in all tranquility.
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If thou canst see sharp, look and judge wisely, says the philosopher.