Marcus Aurelius Quotes

Only to the rational animal is it given to follow voluntarily what happens; but simply to follow is a necessity imposed on all.

You have a mind? —Yes. Well, why not use it? (Hays translation)

To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it.

All things are the same,—familiar in enterprise, momentary in endurance, coarse in substance. All things now are as they were in the day of those whom we have buried.

Pain is the opposite of strength, and so is anger. (Hays translation)

Remember how long you have been putting off these things, and how many times the gods have given you days of grace, and yet you do not use them.

ἐν ὀλιγίστοις κεῖται τὸ εὐδαιμόνως βιῶσαι

You don't love yourself enough. Or you'd love your nature too, and what it demands of you. People who love what they do wear themselves down doing it, they even forget to wash or eat. Do you have less respect for your own nature than the engraver does for engraving, the dancer for the dance, the miser for money or the social climber for status? When they're really possessed by what they do, they'd rather stop eating and sleeping than give up practicing their arts. Is helping others less valuable to you? Not worth your effort? (Hays translation)

A man should be upright, not kept upright.

Speak the truth as you see it. But with kindness. With humility.

If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it. For let thy efforts be —

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

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)

And you can also commit injustice by doing nothing. (Hays translation)

Why should you feel anger at the world? As if the world would notice.