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Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Quotes

Roman emperor

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Famous Marcus Aurelius Quotes

“I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than on the opinions of others.”

MenLoveValuesOpinionPsychologyEvery ManOthers OpinionsEvery Man For Himself
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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“Consider when thou art much vexed or grieved, that man's life is only a moment, and after a short time we are all laid out dead.”

MenArtMomentsLife IsShort Time
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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“If any man should conceive certain things as being really good, such as prudence, temperance, justice, fortitude, he would not after having first conceived these endure to listen to anything which should not be in harmony with what is really good.”

IfsMenShouldFirstsCertainJusticeHarmonyEndureBeing RealPrudenceFortitudeTemperance
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius The Golden Sayings Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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“Nothing happens to any man which he is not formed by nature to bear. The same things happen to another, and either because he does not see that they have happened or because he would show a great spirit he is firm and remains unharmed. It is a shame then that ignorance and conceit should be stronger than wisdom.”

MenShouldDoeShowsHappensSpiritHappenedIgnoranceBearsStrongerShameRemainsThings HappenFirmConceitGreat Spirit
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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“Why should a man have any apprehension about the change and dissolution of all the elements? For it is according to nature, and nothing is evil which is according to nature.”

MenShouldEvilElementsApprehensionDissolution
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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“How can a man find a sensible way to live? One way and one only- Philosophy. And my philosophy means keeping that vital spark within you free from damage and degradation, using it to transcend pain and pleasure, doing everything with a purpose, avoiding lies and hypocrisy, not relying on another person's actions or failings. To accept everything that comes, and everything that is given, as coming from that same spiritual source.”

MenWayMeanPersonsPhilosophyActionPainSpiritualLyingPurposeGivenPleasureAcceptingFailingSourceOne WayDamageHypocrisySparksSensibleWithin YouAvoidingDegradationWay To LivePain And Pleasure
Author:Marcus Aurelius
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“Remember that all is opinion. For what was said by the Cynic Monimus is manifest: and manifest too is the use of what was said, if a man receives what may be got out of it as far as it is true.”

IfsMenMaySaidUseRememberOpinionManifestCynic
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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“God sees the minds (ruling principles) of all men bared of the material vesture and rind and impurities. For with his intellectual part alone he touches the intelligence only which has flowed and been derived from himself into these bodies. And if thou also usest thyself to do this, thou wilt rid thyself of thy much trouble. For he who regards not the poor flesh which envelops him, surely will not trouble himself by looking after raiment and dwelling and fame and such like externals and show.”

IfsMenMindShowsBodyPoorPrinciplesTroubleMaterialsFameIntellectualRegardFleshRulingThyselfDwellingImpurity
Book:Thoughts of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
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“Consider in what condition both in body and soul a man should be when he is overtaken by death; and consider the shortness of life, the boundless abyss of time past and future, the feebleness of all matter.”

MenShouldSoulMatterBodyPastConditionsAbyssBoundlessTimes PastShortnessShortness Of Life
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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“When men hate or blame you, or say hurtful things about you, look deeply into their hearts and see what kind of men they are. You'll see how unnecessary it is to strain after their good opinion. Yet you must still think kindly of them. they are your neighbors. The gods help them as they do you, by dreams and oracles, to win their hearts' desires.”

ThinkingMenLooksHeartKindStillsHelpingDreamDesireHateWinningOpinionBlameNeighborUnnecessaryStrainHurtfulGod HelpOraclesHearts DesireHurtful Things
Author:Marcus Aurelius
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“A man should always have these two rules in readiness. First, to do only what the reason of your ruling and legislating faculties suggest for the service of man. Second, to change your opinion whenever anyone at hand sets you right and unsettles you in an opinion, but this change of opinion should come only because you are persuaded that something is just or to the public advantage, not because it appears pleasant or increases your reputation.”

MenShouldFirstsTwoReasonHandsOpinionAdvantageIncreaseReputationPleasantFacultyRulingReadiness
Author:Marcus Aurelius
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“In this flowing stream, then, on which there is no abiding, what is there of the things which hurry by on which a man would set a high price? It would be just as if a man should fall in love with one of the sparrows which fly by, but it has already passed out of sight.”

IfsMenShouldWould BeFallSightFalling In LoveStreamsAbidingSparrowsHigh Prices
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius The Golden Sayings Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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“If you do the task before you always adhering to strict reason with zeal and energy and yet with humanity, disregarding all lesser ends and keeping the divinity within you pure and upright, as though you were even now faced with its recall - if you hold steadily to this, staying for nothing and shrinking from nothing, only seeking in each passing action a conformity with nature and in each word and utterance a fearless truthfulness, then the good life shall be yours. And from this course no man has the power to hold you back.”

IfsMenEndsReasonActionHumanityCoursesEnergyPureTasksSeekingPassingPassingsFearlessDivinityStayingConformityGood LifeWithin YouRecallsStrictZealTruthfulnessUtteranceShrinking
Author:Marcus Aurelius
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“Which is recorded of Socrates, that he was able both to abstain from, and to enjoy, those things which many are too weak to abstain from, and cannot enjoy without excess. But to be strong enough both to bear the one and to be sober in the other is the mark of a man who has a perfect and invincible soul.”

MenSoulEnoughAbleStrongEnjoyPerfectBearsWeakMarkExcessSoberStrong EnoughInvincible
Book:Stoic Six Pack: Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Golden Sayings, Fragments and Discourses of Epictetus, Letters from a Stoic and The Enchiridion
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