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
epigram frivolous meant misses thinks
He misses what is meant by epigram - who thinks it only frivolous flimflam
flesh ruling whatever
Whatever this is that I am, it is a little flesh and breath, and the ruling part.
befall thee whatever
Whatever may befall thee, it was preordained for thee from everlasting
beautiful beauty complete forms hath none nor praise source whatever worse
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.
happens watch whatever
Whatever happens at all happens as it should; you will find this true, if you watch narrowly.
refuses soon
He who refuses nothing, Atticilla, will soon have nothing to refuse
half lend lose rather wishes
He who prefers to give to Linus the half of what he wishes to borrow, rather than to lend him the whole, prefers to lose only the half
black eyes honest man red
With red hair, a black face, a cloven foot, and blear eyes, you show the world a prodigy, Zoilus, if you are an honest man
appear deny neither nor praise rich
You are pretty - we know it; and young - it's true; and rich - who can deny it? But when you praise yourself extravagantly, Fabula, you appear neither rich, nor pretty, nor young
ask field sign yields
You ask me, Linus what my field out at Nomentum is to yield? Well this it yields to me: the view, my Linus, has no sign of you
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
future lies life past spent uncertain within
Everyman's life lies within the present, for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain
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
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,