Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
121-180 CE • Roman
Stoicism
Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher. His private Meditations remain one of the most influential works of practical philosophy.
Key Works
- Meditations
119
quotes in library
Quotes by Marcus Aurelius
119 quotes“Confine yourself to the present.”
presenceMeditations 7.29
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
happinessMeditations 7.67
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
courageMeditations 12.1
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”
acceptanceMeditations 7.54
“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”
virtueMeditations 6.6
“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”
integrityMeditations 12.17
“How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbour says or does or thinks.”
focusMeditations 4.18
“Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.”
selfMeditations 7.59
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
perceptionMeditations
“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”
mindMeditations 4.3
“Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial.”
equanimityMeditations 2.1
“Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.”
kinshipMeditations 6.39
“Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?”
humilityMeditations 11.18
“Do every act of your life as if it were your last.”
presenceMeditations 2.5
“When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly.”
equanimityMeditations 2.1
“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.”
mindMeditations 4.7
“Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature?”
discernmentMeditations 8.11
“It is in your power to withdraw yourself whenever you desire. Perfect tranquility within consists in the good ordering of the mind.”
peaceMeditations 4.3
“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
strengthMeditations
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