Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE,) fully Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, born Marcus Annius Verus, was the Roman emperor 161–180. He was engaged for much of his rule with wars against Germanic tribes. By nature philosophical contemplative, Marcus is also known for his aphorisms and reflections based on a Stoic outlook in his Meditations.
Born into a prominent Roman family, Marcus was adopted in 138 by Emperor Hadrian’s successor, Antoninus Pius (at Hadrian’s behest.) Marcus succeeded Antoninus as emperor in 161. During his reign, Rome faced troubles on the frontiers of the empire, and Marcus’s death is often considered the end of the golden age of the Roman Empire.
Marcus is well-known for the intimate notebook, Meditations that he wrote during the military campaigns of the last ten years of his life. According to scholars, Marcus may have turned to philosophy for mental stimulation while removed from the cultural and intellectual life of Rome.
The twelve books that comprise the Meditations are unorganized private reflections on life, death, personal conduct, and the cosmos, owe much to the Stoic philosophers Epictetus and Gaius Musonius Rufus, even though they were Marcus’s own thoughts.
Published unrevised only after Marcus’s death, Meditations were not very influential straightway. Later considered by many generations one of the greatest books of all times, Meditations are a substantial source of the modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Marcus Aurelius
Everything—a horse, a vine—is created for some duty…For what task, then, were you yourself created? A man’s true delight is to do the things he was made for.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Vision, Purpose, Love
How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Trouble, Opinion, Opinions, Gossip, Confidence, Self-reliance
All the transactions of the past differ very little from those of the present.
—Marcus Aurelius
Poverty is the mother of crime.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Poverty, Justice
That which is not good for the bee-hive cannot be good for the bees.
—Marcus Aurelius
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Self-Discovery, Doing Your Best, Honesty, Respect, Self Respect, Self-respect
Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people’s actions, and see what they would be at, as often as it is practicable; and to make this custom the more significant, practice it first upon yourself.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Advice
He that is violent in the pursuit of pleasure will not mind turning villain for the purchase.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Pleasure
It is false to say that you are a vicious man, Zoilus; you are not a vicious man, you are vice itself
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Vice
Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be. Become one yourself!
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Kindness
It is not the weight of the future or the past that is pressing upon you, but ever that of the present alone. Even this burden, too, can be lessened if you confine it strictly to its own limits.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: The Present
Live not one’s life as though one had a thousand years, but live each day as the last.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Day
Consider how much more you often suffer from your anger and grief, than from those very things for which you are angry and grieved.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Attitude, Anger, Grief
One universe made up all that is; and one God in it all, and one principle of being, and one law, the reason shared by all thinking creatures, and one truth.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Truth
A man must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Man
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.
—Marcus Aurelius
Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Difficulty
Whatever may happen to thee, it was prepared for thee from all eternity; and the implication of causes was, from eternity, spinning the thread of thy being, and of that which is incident to it.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Fate
Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Values
Whatever the universal nature assigns to any man at any time is for the good of that man at that time.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Fate
When thou art above measure angry, bethink thee how momentary a man’s life is.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Anger
Be not careless in deeds, nor confused in words, nor rambling in thought.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Words
Everything that happens happens as it should, and if you observe carefully, you will find this to be so.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Understanding
Vex not thy spirit at the course of things; they heed not thy vexation. How ludicrous and outlandish is astonishment at anything that may happen in life.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Realistic Expectations, Acceptance
The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Positive Attitudes, Optimism
No longer talk at all about the kind of man a good man ought to be, but be such.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Goodness
In the morning let this thought be present: I am rising to a man’s work.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Day
The true worth of a man is to be measured by the objects he pursues.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Business, Aspirations, Goals
Life is a warfare and a stranger’s sojourn, and after fame is oblivion.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Fame
Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Fate is at your elbow; make yourself good while life and power are still yours.
—Marcus Aurelius
Topics: Goodness, Life, Action, Power
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Jacques Derrida French Philosopher, Literary Theorist
John Rawls American Philosopher
Karl Popper Austrian-born British Philosopher
Zeno of Citium Greek Philosopher
Jeremy Bentham British Philosopher, Economist
Friedrich Schleiermacher German Theologian
Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach German Philosopher
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel German Philosopher
Mencius Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Boethius Roman Statesman, Philosopher