Marcus Aurelius Quotes

Not to feel exasperated, or defeated, or despondent because your days aren't packed with wise and moral actions. But to get back up when you fail, to celebrate behaving like a human--however imperfectly--and fully embrace the pursuit that you've embarked on. (Hays translation)

The span we live is small—small as the corner of the earth in which we live it. Small as even the greatest renown, passed from mouth to mouth by short-lived stick figures, ignorant alike of themselves and those long dead. (Hays translation)

So other people hurt me? That's their problem. Their character and actions are not mine.

What matter and opportunity [for thy activity] art thou avoiding? For what else are all these things, except exercises for the reason, when it has viewed carefully and by examination into their nature the things which happen in life? Persevere then until thou shalt have made these things thy own, as the stomach which is strengthened makes all things its own, as the blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.

That to expect bad people not to injure others is crazy. It's to ask the impossible. And to let them behave like that to other people but expect them to exempt you is arrogant—the act of a tyrant. (Hays translation)

Art thy not content that thou hast done something conformable to thy nature, and dost thou seek to be paid for it? Just as if the eye demanded recompense for seeing, or the feet for walking. For as these members are formed for a particular purpose... so also is man formed by nature to acts of benevolence.

To enter others minds and let them enter yours.

Direct thy attention to what is said. Let thy understanding enter into the things that are doing and the things which do them.

Where any work can be done conformably to the reason which is common to gods and men, there we have nothing to fear; for where we are able to get profit by means of the activity which is successful and proceeds according to our constitution, there no harm is to be suspected.

Often injustice lies in what you aren't doing, not only in what you are doing.

Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee.

Love the hand that fate deals you and play it as your own, for what could be more fitting?

The only thing that isn't worthless: to live this life out truthfully and rightly. And be patient with those who don't. (Hays translation)

Get busy with life's purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue...

Respect the faculty that forms thy judgments.