Marcus Aurelius quotes. One of the most revered emperors in Roman history, Marcus Aurelius was known for his interest in philosophy. He came from a well-off, well-known family in politics. Marcus Aurelius studied hard as a child, picking up Latin and Greek. However, he was most interested in the philosophy of Stoicism, which placed a strong emphasis on fate, logic, and restraint.
Marcus Aurelius drew heavily on the writings of the Stoic philosopher and former slave Epictetus in his discourses.Even the emperor Hadrian took note of his serious and tenacious personality. Hadrian adopted Titus Aurelius Antoninus (later known as Emperor Pius Antonius) to succeed him as emperor after his first choice for the position passed away.
He worked alongside his adopted father while learning the ways of government and public affairs.As the years passed, he received more responsibilities and official powers, evolving into a strong source of support and counsel for Antoninus. After his adoptive father died in 161, Marcus Aurelius rose to power and was officially then known as Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus.
Read through Marcus Aurelius’s quotations to get a sense of his politically sane mentality.
A man’s worth is no greater than his ambitions.
To understand the true quality of people, you must look into their minds, and examine their pursuits and aversions.
Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else.
The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious.
No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be good.
As an antidote to battle unkindness we were given kindness.
People exist for one another. You can instruct or endure them.
Only attend to yourself, and resolve to be a good man in every act that you do.
Refer your action to no other end than the common good.
Do you want to know if you are educated? Show us your values, philosopher.
My city and country, so far as I am Antoninus, is Rome; but so far as I am a man, it is the world.
Not to waste time on nonsense.
You must turn to profit the present by the aid of reason and justice.
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
The things that are essential are acquired with little bother; it is the luxuries that call for toil and effort.
The tranquillity that comes when you stop caring what they say. Or think, or do. Only what you do.
The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.
Life is neither good or evil, but only a place for good and evil.
While you live, while it is in your power, be good.
Where a man can live, he can also live well.
Mastery of reading and writing requires a master. Still, more so life.
Pleasures, when they go beyond a certain limit, are but punishments.
A person’s worth is measured by the worth of what he values.
A thing is neither better nor worse for having been praised.
Poverty’s no evil to anyone unless he kicks against it.
Passions stem from frustrated desire.
Glory paid to our ashes comes too late.
Tomorrow is nothing, today is too late; the good lived yesterday.
Poverty is the mother of crime.
Anger cannot be dishonest.
Summary
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