Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

There is no misfortune, but to bear it nobly is good fortune.

Thou sufferest justly: for thou choosest rather to become good to-morrow than to be good to-day.

Misfortune nobly born is good fortune.

Let every action aim solely at the common good.

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.

To live happily is an inward power of the soul.

The happiness and unhappiness of the rational, social animal depends not on what he feels but on what he does; just as his virtue and vice consist not in feeling but in doing.

Death smiles at us all, all a man can do is smile back.

All those [events in history] were such dramas as we see now, only with different actors.

How easy it is to repel and release every impression which is troublesome and immediately to be tranquil.

Everything that happens happens as it should, and if you observe carefully, you will find this to be so.

Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.

Do what you will. Even if you tear yourself apart, most people will continue doing the same things.

Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.

Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.

Remember that to change your mind and follow him who sets you right is to be none the less free than you were before.

It is a shameful thing for the soul to faint while the body still perseveres.

Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

While you live, while it is in your power, be good.

There is nothing happens to any person but what was in his power to go through with.

But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in your power whenever you choose to retire into yourself.

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.

Consider that everything is opinion, and opinion is in thy power.

The ruling power within, when it is in its natural state, is so related to outer circumstances that it easily changes to accord with what can be done and what is given it to do.