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Quote by Marcus Aurelius

“Nature insists on whatever benefits the whole.”

Quote by Marcus Aurelius

Author

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius, born in 121 AD and died in 180 AD, was an emperor of the Roman Empire. He is one of the Five Good Emperors and is known for his philosophical thoughts and the stability of his reign. He was not only an outstanding politician but also a famous Stoic philosopher, whose work 'Meditations' has had a profound impact on later generations. more

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“Reason and the reasoning faculty need no foreign assistance, but are sufficient for their own purposes. They move within themselves, and make directly for the point in view. Wherefore, acts in accordance with them are called right acts, for they lead along the right road.”

Needs Reason Moving Purpose Views Sufficient Reasoning Faculty Assistance Right Road

Book:The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

Source: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

“What use do I put my soul to? It is a serviceable question this, and should frequently be put to oneself. How does my ruling part stand affected? And whose soul have I now? That of a child, or a young man, or a feeble woman, or of a tyrant, of cattle or wild beasts.”

Men Should Children Doe Soul Use Young Oneself My Soul Young Man Beast Affected Tyrants Ruling Cattle Wild Beasts

Book:Meditations

Source: Meditations

“How very near us stand the two vast gulfs of time, the past and the future, in which all things disappear.”

Two Past Time All Things Disappear

Book:The Meditations: Translated from the Greek

Source: The Meditations: Translated from the Greek

“What doesn't transmit light creates its own darkness.”

Light Darkness Transmit

Book:Meditations: A New Translation

Source: Meditations: A New Translation

“Not even the vicissitudes of fortune are contrary to nature or to the providential ordering of the universe. It all flows from the gods, who determine what is needed for the welfare of the whole universe, of which you are a part.”

Whole Universe Needed Flow Fortune Determine Contrary Welfare Vicissitudes

Book:The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations

Source: The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations

“Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in their station. Pray, shall not a man act like a man?”

Men Looks Praying Bird Plant Busy Look Up Stations Bees Spiders Ants

Book:The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

Source: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

“Do you see what little is required of a man to live a well-tempered and god-fearing life? Obey these precepts, and the gods will ask nothing more.”

Men Wells Littles Asks Gods Will

Book:The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations

Source: The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations

“I will march on in the path of nature till my legs sink under me, and then I shall be at rest, and expire into that air which has given me my daily breath.”

Given Path Air Breaths Legs March

Book:The Meditations: Translated from the Greek

Source: The Meditations: Translated from the Greek

“I bless the gods for not letting my education in rhetoric, poetry, and other literary studies come easily to me, and thereby sparing me from an absorbing interest in these subjects.”

Interest Study Subjects Bless Rhetoric Absorbing

Book:The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations

Source: The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations

“Be mindful at all times of the following: the nature of the whole universe, the nature of the part that is me, the relation of the one to the other, the one so vast, the other so small.”

Whole Universe Relation Following All Time

Book:The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations

Source: The Emperor's Handbook: A New Translation of The Meditations