Marcus Aurelius Quotes

“The world is nothing but change. Our life is only perception.” (Hays translation)

No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be good. (Hays translation)

Your three components: body, breath, mind. Two are yours in trust; to the third alone you have clear title.

Someone despises me. That's their problem. Mine: not to do or say anything despicable. Someone hates me. Their problem. Mine: to be patient and cheerful with everyone, including them. (Hays translation)

Pain is the opposite of strength, and so is anger.

No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be good.

As thou thyself art a component part of a social system, so let every act of thine be a component part of social life. Whatever act of thine that has no reference, either immediately or remotely, to a social end, this tears asunder thy life, and does not allow it to be one, and it is of the nature of a mutiny, just as when in a popular assembly a man acting by himself stands apart from the general agreement.

It needs to realize that what happens to everyone—bad and good alike—is neither good nor bad. (Hays translation)

Nothing happens to anyone that he can't endure. (Hays translation)

Remember this— that there is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life.

A man when he has done a good act, does not call out for others to come and see, but he goes on to another act, as a vine goes on to produce again the grapes in season.

Let there be freedom from perturbations with respect to the things which come from the external cause; and let there be justice in the things done by virtue of the internal cause, that is, let there be movement and action terminating in this, in social acts, for this is according to thy nature.

Why then dost thou choose to act in the same way? and why dost thou not leave these agitations which are foreign to nature, to those who cause them and those who are moved by them? And why art thou not altogether intent upon the right way of making use of things which happen to thee? for then thou wilt use them well, and they will be material for thee. Only attend to thyself, and resolve to be a good man in every act which thou doest; and remember...

I do what is mine to do; the rest doesn't disturb me. (Hays translation)

This is a fine saying of Plato: That he who is discoursing about men should look also at earthly things as if he viewed them from some higher place; should look at them... a mixture of all things and an orderly combination of contraries.