Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

Men despise one another and flatter one another; and men wish to raise themselves above one another, and crouch before one another.

If you seek tranquillity, do less." Or (more accurately) do what's essential—what the logos of a social being requires, and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better.

Think thyself fit and worthy to speak, or to do anything that is according to nature, and let not the reproach, or report of some that may ensue upon it, ever deter thee. If it be right and honest to be spoken or done, undervalue not thyself so much, as to be discouraged from it.

That bees don't behave like this—or any other animals with a sense of community. Don't do it sardonically or meanly, but affectionately—with no hatred in your heart. And not ex cathedra or to impress third parties, but speaking directly. Even if there are other people around.

haber aprendido cómo hay que aceptar las finezas de los amigos, sin dejarse esclavizar por ellas y sin rechazarlas toscamente.

HE WHO acts unjustly acts impiously. For since the universal nature has made rational animals for the sake of one another to help one another according to their deserts, but in no way to injure one another, he who transgresses her will, is clearly guilty of impiety towards the highest divinity.

What then is that about which we ought to employ our serious pains? This one thing, thoughts just, and acts social, and words which never lie, and a disposition which gladly accepts all that happens, as necessary, as usual, as flowing from a principle and source of the same kind.

and to be easy and ready to be reconciled, and well pleased again with them that had offended me, as soon as any of them would be content to seek unto me again.

Reverence: so you'll accept what you're allotted. Nature intended it for you, and you for it.

Many lumps of incense on the same altar. One crumbles now, one later, but it makes no difference

From my tutor: not to become a 5Green or Blue supporter at the races, or side with the Lights or Heavies in the amphitheatre; to tolerate pain and feel few needs; to work with my own hands and mind my own business; to be deaf to malicious gossip.

think little of thy flesh: blood, bones, and a skin; a pretty piece of knit and twisted work, consisting of nerves, veins and arteries; think no more of it, than so. And as for thy life, consider what it is; a wind; not one constant wind neither, but every moment of an hour let out, and sucked in again.

Um período limitado de tempo lhe foi concedido, e se não o aproveitar para limpar as brumas de sua mente, o tempo escorrerá junto com a sua vida, para nunca mais retornar.

It's courtesy and kindness that define a human being

Fijar y des ribir siempre el objeto cuya imagen se presenta al espíritu, de suerte que se le ve lúcidamente, tal como es por naturaleza, desnudo, bajo diversos aspectos y decirse asi mismo su nombre y los nombres de los elementos que lo conforman y en los que se desintegrara. Nada en efecto contribuye a la grandeza del animo como poder comprobar con orden y exactitud cada uno de los objetos que representan la vida y verlos siempre de tal conformidad

35. We have various abilities, present in all rational creatures as in the nature of rationality itself. And this is one of them. Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it—turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself—so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal.

And whensoever thou findest thyself; that thou art in danger of a relapse, and that thou art not able to master and overcome those difficulties and temptations that present themselves in thy present station: get thee into any private corner, where thou mayst be better able. Or if that will not serve forsake even thy life rather. But so that it be not in passion but in a plain voluntary modest way: this being the only commendable action of thy whole life that thus thou art departed

Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly

49. To be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved and the raging of the sea falls still around it. 49a.

Then remind yourself that past and future have no power over you. Only the present—and even that can be minimized. Just mark off its limits. And if your mind tries to claim that it can't hold out against that . . . well, then, heap shame upon it.

If you seek tranquillity, do less.

No te distraigan los incidentes exteriores. Desocúpate para aprender algo más de bueno, y cesa de andar girando como una devanadera. Conviene asimismo precaverte de otra clase de extravío. Que desvarían los que, a causa de tantos quehaceres, se hastían de la vida y no tienen blanco alguno al que dirijan todos sus esfuerzos y, en una palabra, sus ideas.

External things are not the problem. It's your assessment of them. Which you can erase right now. If the problem is something in your own character, who's stopping you from setting your mind straight? And if it's that you're not doing something you think you should be, why not just do it? —But there are insuperable obstacles. Then it's not a problem. The cause of your inaction lies outside you.

There is a limit circumscribed to your time - if you do not use it to clear away your clouds, it will be gone, and you will be gone, and the opportunity will not return.