Marcus Aurelius quotes - page 12

No man is happy who does not think himself so. (Marcus Aurelius)
Everything - a horse, a vine - is created for some duty... For what task, then, were you yourself created? View quote
Marcus Aurelius
All things of the body stream away like a river, all things of the mind are dreams and delusion; life is warfare, and a visit to a strange land; the only lasting fame is oblivion. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
From the philosopher Catulus, never to be dismissive of a friend's accusation, even if it seems unreasonable, but to make every effort to restore the relationship to its normal condition. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
Neither worse then or better is a thing made by being praised. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
Men exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then or bear with them. (Long translation) View quote
Marcus Aurelius
No one loses any other life than the one he now lives, nor does one live any other life than that which he will lose. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
As far as you can, get into the habit of asking yourself in relation to any action taken by another: "What is his point of reference here?" But begin with yourself: examine yourself first. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
It is within our power not to make a judgement about something, and so not disturb our minds; for nothing in itself possesses the power to form our judgements. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
Think of the universal substance, of which thou has a very small portion; and of universal time, of which a short and indivisible interval has been assigned to thee; and of that which is fixed by destiny, and how small a part of it thou art. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
Everything is banal in experience, fleeting in duration, sordid in content; in all respects the same today as generations now dead and buried have found it to be. (Marcus Aurelius)
For outward show is a wonderful perverter of the reason. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
And in the case of superior things like stars, we discover a kind of unity in separation. The higher we rise on the scale of being, the easier it is to discern a connection even among things separated by vast distances. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
The time is at hand when you will have forgotten everything; and the time is at hand when all will have forgotten you. Always reflect that soon you will be no one, and nowhere. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
You want praise from people who kick themselves every fifteen minutes, the approval of people who despise themselves. (Is it a sign of self-respect to regret nearly everything you do?) (Hays translation) View quote
Marcus Aurelius
Let no act be done at haphazard, nor otherwise than according to the finished rules that govern its kind. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
What is divine is full of Providence. Even chance is not divorced from nature, from the inweaving and enfolding of things governed by Providence. Everything proceeds from it. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
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. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
Respect the faculty that forms thy judgments. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
And virtue they will curse, speaking harsh words. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
Love that only which happens to thee and is spun with the thread of thy destiny. For what is more suitable? (Marcus Aurelius)
Soon you will have forgotten the world, and soon the world will have forgotten you. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
From Antisthenes: It is royal to do good and be abused. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
One man prays thus: How shall I be able to lie with that woman? Do thou pray thus: How shall I not desire to lie with her? Another prays: How shall I be released from this? Another prays: How shall I not desire to be released? Another thus: How shall I not lose my little son? Thou thus: How shall I not be afraid to lose him? In fine, turn thy prayers this way, and see what comes. View quote
Marcus Aurelius
Remember that the term Rational was intended to signify a discriminating attention to every several thing and freedom from negligence; and that Equanimity is the voluntary acceptance of things which are assigned to thee by the common nature; and the Magnanimity is the elevation of the intelligent part above the pleasurable or painful sensations of the flesh, and above that poor thing called fame, and death, and all such things. If then, thou maintainest thyself in the possession of these names, without desiring to be called by these names by others, thou wilt be another person and wilt enter into another life. View quote
Marcus Aurelius