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Marcus Aurelius
Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus (26 April 121 – 17 March 180) Stoic philosopher , and Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180; born Marcus Annius Catilius Severus, at marriage he took the name Marcus Annius Verus. When named Emperor, he was given the name Marcus Aurelius Antoninus.
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The Meditations
Writings by Aurelius, written as reminders to himself of ideas to bear in mind.
- Say to yourself in the early morning: I shall meet today inquisitive, ungrateful, violent, treacherous, envious, uncharitable men. All these things have come upon them through ignorance of real good and ill. (2.1)
- You will find rest from vain fancies if you perform every act in life as though it were your last. (2.5)
- A man should be upright, not kept upright. (3.5)
- Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect. (3.7)
- The Universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it. (4.3)
- Whatever happens at all happens as it should. You will find this true, if you watch closely. (4.10)
- How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy. (4.18)
- Whatever is in any way beautiful hath its source of beauty in itself, and is complete in itself; praise forms no part of it. So it is none the worse nor the better for being praised. (4.20)
- All that is harmony for you, my Universe, is in harmony with me as well. Nothing that comes at the right time for you is too early or too late for me. Everything is fruit to me that your seasons bring, Nature. All things come of you, have their being in you, and return to you. (4.23)
- Remember this— that there is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life. (4.32)
- Search men's governing principles, and consider the wise, what they shun and what they cleave to. (4.38)
- Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things which exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the contexture of the web. (4.40)
- All things are implicated with one another, and the bond is holy; and there is hardly anything unconnected with any other things. For things have been co-ordinated, and they combine to make up the same universe. For there is one universe made up of all things, and one god who pervades all things, and one substance, and one law, and one reason. (7.9)
- It is man's peculiar duty to love even those who wrong him. (7.22)
- Very little is needed to make a happy life. (7.67)
- Look to the essence of a thing, whether it be a point of doctrine, of practice, or of interpretation. (8.22)
- Everything harmonizes with me, which is harmonious to thee, O Universe. Nothing for me is too early or too late, which is in due time for thee. There is one light of the sun, though it is interrupted by walls, mountains and infinite other things. There is one common substance, though it is distributed among countless bodies which have their several qualities. There is one soul, though it is distributed among several natures and individual limitations. There is one intelligent soul, though it seems to be divided. (12.30)
- Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.
- See also: More quotes on the Future
Attributed Most statements attributed to Aurelius, where genuine, are very likely to be from translations of the Meditations, though different translators may phrase things differently, and sometimes with very different connotations.
- Because your own strength is unequal to the task, do not assume that it is beyond the powers of man; but if anything is within the powers and province of man, believe that it is within your own compass also.
- Everything that exists is in a manner the seed of that which will be.
- If we begin with certainties, we shall end in doubts; if we begin with doubts, and are patient, we shall end in certainties.
- If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.
- In life the three acts are the whole drama; for what shall be a complete drama is determined by him who was once the cause of its composition, and now of its dissolution: but thou art not the cause of neither. Depart then satisfied; for he also who releases thee is satisfied.
- Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear.
- One can live well even in a palace.
- (In this statement emphasis is placed upon a "good life" of good actions, rather than a life of dangerous excesses, shallow pursuits and unjust oppressions)
- The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly; and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue, and reasonable nature.
- Think of the totality of all Being, and what a mite of it is yours; think of all Time, and the brief fleeting instant of it that is allotted to yourself; think of Destiny, and how puny a part of it you are.
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