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
Marcus Aurelius quotes about
bear exist men sake teach
Men exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then or bear with them.
living men praise praised seen strangely themselves time value whom
How strangely men act. They will not praise those who are living at the same time and living with themselves; but to be themselves praised by posterity, by those whom they have never seen or ever will see, this they set much value on.
men poetry poor presents send
You may send poetry to the rich; to poor men give substantial presents
certain consider correct deal dost enable great judgment learn man men pass reference thou understand whether wrong
Consider that thou dost not even understand whether men are doing wrong or not, for many things are done with a certain reference to circumstance. And, in short, a man must learn a great deal to enable him to pass a correct judgment on another man's acts.
enjoy good life men past span twice
Good men make life a twofold span to last: Twice does he live who can enjoy his past
refuses soon
He who refuses nothing, Atticilla, will soon have nothing to refuse
challenged magnitude
I think if we had the same magnitude of devastation that they had, we would be very much challenged as well,
earth lightly rest thee
Rest lightly on her earth, for she trod never heavily on thee
epigram frivolous meant misses thinks
He misses what is meant by epigram - who thinks it only frivolous flimflam
greater worth
A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions
connection constantly found mistress proper surprised
As I was constantly told that my mistress Polla indulged in improper connection with a young libertine; I surprised them and found it was as proper as my own
bubble dig ready wellspring within
Dig within. Within is the wellspring of Good; and it is always ready to bubble up, if you just dig.
circle eternity forms round
All things from eternity are of like forms and come round in a circle
drinks mistake morning next till
It is a mistake to think that Acerra reeks of yesterday's liquor: Acerra always drinks till next morning