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
change men suitable
Is any man afraid of change? Why what can take place without change? What then is more pleasing or more suitable to the universal nature?
change shrinks
Why do we shrink from change? What can come into being save by change?
world should feels
Why should we feel anger at the world? As if the world would notice?
running gratitude philosophical
Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already.
men deeds noise
A man makes no noise over a good deed, but passes on to another as a vine to bear grapes again in season.
children names opinion
Socrates used to call the opinions of the many by the name of Lamiae, bugbears to frighten children.
may thee stills
Death hangs over thee, While thou still live, while thou may, do good.
lying law simplicity
Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. Love mankind. Follow God. The poet says that Law rules all. And it is enough to remember that law rules all.
fall journey blessing
Pass then through this little space of time conformably to nature, and end thy journey in content, just as an olive falls off when it is ripe, blessing nature who produced it, and thanking the tree on which it grew.
thinking
All is as thinking makes it so
thinking mind speak
It is possible to depart from life at this moment. Have this thought in mind whenever you act, speak, or think.
mean cities rome
My city and state are Rome. But as a human being? The world. So for me, "good" can only mean what's good for both communities.
people mind different
People find pressure in different ways. I find it in keeping my mind clear. In not turning away from people or the things that happen to them. In accepting and welcoming everything I see. In treating each thing as it deserves.
lying gentleman world
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.