“A Journey into Ancient Wisdom: 200 Marcus Aurelius Quotes” is an insightful book that delves into the wisdom of one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor who lived from 121 to 180 AD and was known for his stoic philosophy. The book is a collection of 200 quotes from his famous book “Meditations”, which offers a glimpse into his thoughts on life, morality, and the human condition. The quotes are thought-provoking and provide a fresh perspective on the challenges we face in our daily lives. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in philosophy, self-improvement, or personal growth.
Marcus Aurelius Quotes
‘“Life is a campaign, a brief staying in a strange region.”’
‘“People generally despise where they flatter, and cringe to those they would gladly overtop; so that truth and ceremony are two things.”’
‘“All that is from the gods is full of Providence.”’
‘“Death – a stopping of impressions through the senses, and of the pulling of the cords of motion, and of the ways of thought, and of service to the flesh.”’
‘“A little time, and thou shalt close thy eyes; and him who has attended thee to thy grave, another soon will lament.”’
‘“Consider when thou art much vexed or grieved, that man’s life is only a moment, and after a short time we are all laid out dead.”’
‘“You exist but as a part inherent in a greater whole. Do not live as though you had a thousand years before you. The common due impends; while you live, and while you may, be good.”’
‘“Be satisfied with your business, and learn to love what you were bred to.”’
‘“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.”’
‘“Light may earth’s crumbling sand be laid on thee, that dogs may dig thy bones up easily.”’
‘“Think not disdainfully of death, but look on it with favor; for even death is one of the things that Nature wills.”’
‘“Search men’s governing principles, and consider the wise, what they shun and what they cleave to.”’
‘“Always take the short cut; and that is the rational one. Therefore say and do everything according to soundest reason.”’
‘“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.”’
‘“Death, like birth, is one of nature’s mysteries, the combining of primal elements and dissolving of the same into the same.”’
‘“The man who has a house everywhere has a home nowhere.”’
‘“When men are inhuman, take care not to feel towards them as they do towards other humans.”’
‘“Look within, for within is the wellspring of virtue, which will not cease flowing, if you cease not from digging.”’
‘“Infinity is a fathomless gulf, into which all things vanish.”’
‘“What springs from earth dissolves to earth again, and heaven-born things fly to their native seat.”’
‘“Nothing that goes on in anyone else’s mind can harm you.”’
‘“How very near us stand the two vast gulfs of time, the past and the future, in which all things disappear.”’
‘“Live with the gods. And he does so who constantly shows them that his soul is satisfied with what is assigned to him.”’
‘“Neither worse then or better is a thing made by being praised.”’
‘“Life is a warfare and a stranger’s sojourn, and after fame is oblivion.”’
‘“It is a ridiculous thing for a man not to fly from his own badness, which is indeed possible, but to fly from other men’s badness, which is impossible.”’
‘“A good disposition is invincible, if it be genuine.”’
‘“Man is born for deeds of kindness.”’
‘“Look deep into the hearts of men, and see what delights and disgusts the wise.”’
‘“No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be emerald, my color undiminished.”’
‘“Everything is interwoven, and the web is holy.”’
‘“A lucky chance is constant in nothing but inconstancy.”’
‘“It is the duty of men to love even those who injure them.”’
Marcus Aurelius Sayings
‘“Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else.”’
‘“Aptitude found in the understanding and is often inherited. Genius coming from reason and imagination, rarely.”’
‘“Things that have a common quality ever quickly seek their kind.”’
‘“All men are made one for another: either then teach them better or bear with them.”’
‘“Consider that everything is opinion, and opinion is in thy power.”’
‘“Think of the country mouse and of the town mouse, and of the alarm and trepidation of the town mouse.”’
‘“Withdraw to the untroubled quietude deep within the soul, and refresh yourself.”’
‘“When you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, remember that your defining characteristic-what defines a human being-is to work with others.”’
‘“The passing minute is every man’s equal possession but what has once gone by is not ours.”’
‘“Love the little trade which thou hast learned, and be content therewith.”’
‘“Within ten days thou wilt seem a god to those to whom thou art now a beast and an ape, if thou wilt return to thy principles and the worship of reason.”’
‘“Short is the little time which remains to thee of life. Live as on a mountain.”’
‘“While you live, while it is in your power, be good.”’
‘“We are born for cooperation, as are the feet, the hands, the eyelids, and the upper and lower jaws.”’
‘“It is satisfaction to a man to do the proper works of a man.”’
‘“From Apollonius I learned freedom of will and undeviating steadiness of purpose; and to look to nothing else, not even for a moment, except to reason.”’
‘“Welcome every experience the looms of fate may weave for you…”’
‘“Look to the essence of a thing, whether it be a point of doctrine, of practice, or of interpretation.”’
‘The wrongdoer is often the person who left something undone, rather than the person who has done something.”’
‘“Death, like birth, is a secret of Nature.”’
‘“Change your attitude to the things that bother you and you will be aware of them.”’
‘“Without a purpose, nothing should be done.”’
‘ “It is the act of a madman to pursue impossibilities .”’
‘“Embellish the soul with simplicity, with prudence, and everything which is neither virtuous nor vicious. Love all men. Walk according to God; for, as a poet hath said, his laws govern all.”’
‘“Let men see, let them know, a real man, who lives as he was meant to live.”’
‘“Where a man can live, he can also live well.”’
‘“Our anger and annoyance are more detrimental to us than the things themselves which anger or annoy us.”’
‘“The act of dying is one of the acts of life.”’
‘“Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Fate is at your elbow; make yourself good while life and power are still yours.”’
‘“Be not careless in deeds, nor confused in words, nor rambling in thought.”’
‘“You should banish any thoughts of how you may appear to others.”’
‘ “A man should remove not only unnecessary acts, but also unnecessary thoughts, for then superfluous activity will not follow.”’
‘“Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their mind.”’
‘“Bear in mind that the measure of a man is the worth of the things he cares about.”’
‘“Don’t let your imagination be crushed by life as a whole.”’
Marcus Aurelius quotations
‘“Love the people with whom fate brings you together.”’
‘“Live out your life in truth and justice, tolerant of those who are neither true nor just.”’
‘“Misfortune nobly born is good fortune.”’
‘“Do not expect Plato’s ideal republic; be satisfied with even the smallest step forward, and consider this no small achievement.”’
‘“Whatever the universal nature assigns to any man at any time is for the good of that man at that time.”’
‘“Let no act be done without purpose.”’
‘“Take me and cast me where you will; I shall still be possessor of the divinity within me, serene and content.”’
‘“Give thyself time to learn something new and good, and cease to be whirled around.”’
‘“If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only concern is not doing or saying anything deserving of contempt.”’
‘“Everything harmonizes with me, which is harmonious to thee, o Universe. Nothing for me is too early or too late, which is in due time for thee.”’
‘“All things fade and quickly turn to myth.”’
‘“Past and future have no power over you. Just the present – and even that can be minimized.”’
‘“When pain is unbearable it destroys us; when it does not it is bearable.”’
‘“Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise.”’
‘ “All is as thinking makes it so.”’
‘“If you are pained by any external thing, it is not this that disturbs you, but your own judgment about it.”’
‘“Life is short. Do not forget about the most important things in our life, living for other people and doing good for them.”’
‘“Life is short. That’s all there is to say. Get what you can from the present – thoughtfully, justly.”’
‘“Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already.”’
‘“Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.”’
‘“For any particular thing, ask: What is it in itself? What is its nature?”’
‘Every living organism is fulfilled when it follows the right path for its own nature.”’
‘“The only thing that isn’t worthless: to live this life out truthfully and rightly, And be patience with those who don’t.”’
‘“It doesn’t hurt me unless I interpret its happening as harmful to me. I can choose not to.”’
‘“The cucumber is bitter? Then throw it out. There are brambles in the path? Then go around. That’s all you need to know.”’
‘“Receive wealth or prosperity without arrogance; and be ready to let it go.”’
‘“Everything is interwoven, and the web is holy; none of its parts are unconnected. They are composed harmoniously, and together – they compose the world.”’
‘“Poverty is the mother of crime.”’
Meditations Marcus Aurelius Quotes
‘“My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.”’
‘“Because other people are fools, must you be so too?”’
‘“Your time has a limit set to it. Use it, then, to advance your enlightenment; or it will be gone, and never in your power again.”’
‘“Whoever does wrong, wrongs himself; whoever does injustice, does it to himself, making himself evil.”’
‘“Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.”’
‘“If unwilling to rise in the morning, say to thyself, ‘I awake to do the work of a man.’”’
‘ “You have to assemble your life yourself – action by action.”’
‘“Here is the rule to remember in the future, When anything tempts you to be bitter: not, ‘This is a misfortune’ but ‘To bear this worthily is good fortune.’”’
‘“Begin – to begin is half the work, let half still remain; again begin this, and thou wilt have finished.”’,
‘“Do not be wise in words – be wise in deeds.”’
‘“The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”’
‘“Deem not life a thing of consequence. For look at the yawning void of the future, and at that other limitless space, the past.”’
‘“Remind oneself continually of one of those who practiced virtue in days gone by.”’
‘“The soul is dyed by the thoughts. Dye it then, with a continuous series of such thoughts as these – that where a man can live, there – if he will – he can also live well.”’
‘“The universal order and the personal order are nothing but different expressions and manifestations of a common underlying principle.”’
‘”How powerful is man! He is able to do all that God wishes him to do. He is able to accept all that God sends upon him.”’
‘“We ought to do good to others as simply as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne.”’
‘“One universe made up all that is; and one God in it all, and one principle of being, and one law, the reason shared by all thinking creatures, and one truth.”’
‘“Look to nothing, not even for a moment except to reason.”’
‘The perfection of moral character consists in this, in passing every day as the last, and in being neither violently excited nor torpid nor playing the hypocrite.”’
‘“Spend your brief moment according to nature’s law, and serenely greet the journey’s end as an olive falls when it is ripe, blessing the branch that bare it, and giving thanks to the tree that gave it life.”’
‘We are born for cooperation.”’
‘“Whatever anyone does or says, I must be emerald and keep my colour.”’
‘“Whatever may happen to you was prepared for you from all eternity; and the implication of causes was from eternity spinning the thread of your being.”’
‘“Your manners will depend very much upon the quality of what you frequently think on; for the soul is as it were tinged with the colour and complexion of thought.”’
‘“Humans have come into being for the sake of each other, so either teach them, or learn to bear them.”’
‘“A man must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.”’
‘“Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?”’
‘”A little flesh, a little breath, and a Reason to rule all – that is myself.”’
‘“Be content to seem what you really are.”’
‘“Find joy in simplicity, self-respect, and indifference to what lies between virtue and vice. Love the human race. Follow the divine.”’
‘“He who pays no attention to what his neighbor does, says or thinks, preferring to concentrate on making his own actions appropriate and justifiable, better uses his time.”’
‘“Regain your senses, call yourself back, and once again wake up. Now that you realize that only dreams were troubling you, view this ‘reality’ as you view your dreams.”’
‘“No one was ever injured by the truth; but he who persists in self-deception and ignorance is injured.”’
‘To refrain from imitation is the best revenge.”’
‘“It is in your power to withdraw yourself whenever you desire. Perfect tranquility within consists in the good ordering of the mind, the realm of your own.”’
‘“Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.”’
‘“The blazing fire makes flames and brightness out of everything thrown into it.”’
‘“The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.”’
‘“In the morning when thou risest unwillingly, let this thought be present – I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world?”’
‘“Your task is to stand straight; not to be held straight.”’
‘”To the wise, life is a problem; to the fool, a solution.”’
‘“Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.”’
‘“Death and life, success and failure, pain and pleasure, wealth and poverty, all these happen to good and bad alike, and they are neither noble nor shameful – and hence neither good nor bad.”’
‘“For it is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose.”’
‘“Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear.”’
‘“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature’s delight.”’
‘“Do not think that what is hard for you to master is humanly impossible; but if a thing is humanly possible, consider it to be within your reach.”’
‘“Whoever values peace of mind and the health of the soul will live the best of all possible lives.”’
‘“Think of what you have rather than of what you lack. Of the things you have, select the best and then reflect how eagerly you would have sought them if you did not have them.”’
‘“The memory of everything is very soon overwhelmed in time.”’
‘“What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness.”’
‘“The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.”’
‘“Each day provides its own gifts.”’
‘“Do not act as if you had a thousand years to live.”’
‘“He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.”’
‘“Choose not to be harmed and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed and you haven’t been.”’
‘“Life is neither good or evil, but only a place for good and evil.”’
‘“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”’
‘“It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinions than our own.”’
‘“It is the responsibility of leadership to work intelligently with what is given, and not waste time fantasizing about a world of flawless people and perfect choices.”’
‘Most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’”’
‘“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”’
‘“Confine yourself to the present.”’
‘“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.”’
‘“The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.”’
‘“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.”’
‘“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”’
‘“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”’
‘“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”’
‘ “Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”’
‘“A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.”’
‘“If it is not right do not do it. If it is not true do not say it.”’
‘“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”’
‘“Our life is what our thoughts make it.”’
‘“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”’
‘“Death smiles at us all, all a man can do is smile back.”’
‘“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”’
‘“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.”’
‘“What we do now echoes in eternity.”’
‘“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”’
‘“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”’
‘“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”’
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