Marcus Aurelius Quotes

A man should be upright, not kept upright.

Yes, you can--if you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life, and stop being aimless, stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you, stop being hypocritical, self-centered, irritable. (Hays translation)

You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think. (Hays translation)

Everything is in a state of metamorphosis. Thou thyself art in everlasting change and in corruption to correspond; so is the whole universe.

While you live - while you can - be a good man.

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

Who is responsible for our own restlessness.
That no one obstructs us.
That it's all in how you perceive it.

If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.

Stick to what’s in front of you—idea, action, utterance.

When thou art offended at any man's fault, forthwith turn to thyself and reflect in what manner thou doest error thyself... For by attending to this thou wilt quickly forget thy anger, if this consideration is also added, that the man is compelled; for what else could he do? or, if thou art able, take away from him the compulsion.

There is no man so fortunate that there shall not be by him when he is dying some who are pleased with what is going to happen. Suppose that he was a good and a wise man, will there not be at least some one to say to himself, Let us at last breathe freely, being relieved from this schoolmaster? It is true that he was harsh to none of us, but I perceive that he tacitly condemns us.—This is what is said of a good man. But in our own case how many other things are there for which there are many who wish to get rid of us.

The healthy eye ought to see all visible things and not to say, I wish for green things; for this is the condition of the diseased eye. And the healthy hearing and smelling ought to be ready to perceive all that can be heard and smelled. And the healthy stomach ought to be with respect to all food just as the mill with respect to all things which it is formed to grind. And accordingly the healthy understanding ought to be prepared for everything which happens; but that which says, Let my dear children live, and let all men praise whatever I may do, is an eye which seeks for green things, or teeth which seek for soft things.

No role is so well suited to philosophy as the one you happen to be in right now.

The straightforward and good person should be like a smelly goat—you know when they are in the room with you.

Accept the things to which fate binds you and love the people with whom fate brings you together...with all your heart.