Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

In order to act well in this world, you must first accept it. Justice, generosity, and gratitude flow from a mind that embraces all things, in harmony with our nature as rational and social beings.  Injustice, selfishness, and fear flow from a mind that complains about and fights against things as they are, straying from reason and society.

Ricorda che tra non molto non sarai più nessuno, da nessuna parte, e non esisteranno più nessuna delle cose che vedi ora e nessuno di coloro che vivono ora. Tutti quanti gli esseri, infatti, per natura devono mutare, trasformarsi e corrompersi, perché altri possano subentrare ad essi.

Cuando desees alegrar tu corazón, ponte a considerar la ventajosa superioridad de tus compañeros, por ejemplo, la laboriosidad de éste, la circunspección de aquél, la liberalidad de uno y cualquier prerrogativa de otro. Nada nos deleita tanto como los ejemplos de las virtudes que resplandecen en la conducta de los compañeros y nos entran por los ojos como apiñadas en tropel.

When thou hast been compelled by circumstances to be disturbed in a manner, quickly return to thyself, and do not continue out of tune longer than the compulsion lasts; for thou wilt have more mastery over the harmony by continually recurring to it.

No imagines las cosas ausentes como ya presentes antes bien, selecciona entre las presentes las mas favorables y a la vista de esto, recuerda como las buscarías si no estuvieran presentes. Pero al mismo tiempo ten precaución, no vaya a ser que por complacerte hasta tal punto en su disfrute te habitúes a sobrestimarlas, de manera que, si alguna vez no estuvieran presentes, pudieras sentirte inquieto

You can't set down rules for others until you have first followed them yourself.

How foolish it is, then, to puff yourself up with pride or berate yourself with worry. Think of the boundless abyss of the past behind you and the infinite future stretching out ahead. From this perspective, how small are your achievements—and how petty your troubles.

4?]??I have often wondered how it is that everyone loves himself more than anyone else, but rates his own judgement of himself below that of others.

In a wicked generation, might makes right, violence is praised, and virtue is slandered." —Hesiod, Works and Days

Instead of boasting or moaning, rest content knowing that you are a small part of the universe, and treasure the moment of eternity that you have been given. * * *

Against our will, our souls are cut off from truth." Truth, yes, and justice, self-control, kindness Ã¢â'¬Â¦ Important to keep this in mind. It will make you more patient with other people.

If you are distressed about anything, the pain is not one to the thing but to your own estimate to it.

Each morning, remind yourself that this day may be your last. And when you tuck your children into bed at night, remember that they, too, are mortals who someday will die.

Did someone do me wrong? That's their problem—they harmed their own character, not mine. I will stay focused on my own thoughts and actions.

Wipe off all idle fancies, and say unto thyself incessantly; Now if I will, it is in my power to keep out of this my soul all wickedness, all lust, and concupiscences, all trouble and confusion.

No obres como quien ha de vivir diez mil años. Lo irreparable está ya suspendido encima de ti. Mientras vives, mientras es aún posible, sé hombre de bien.

To change your mind and defer to correction is not to sacrifice your independence; for such an act is your own, in pursuance of your own impulse, your own judgement, and your own thinking.

So it is that we have more respect for what our neighbours will think of us than we have for ourselves.

Don't bind yourself, with the chains of desire and fear, to things that are outside your sphere of control. This is a matter of sanity." —Epictetus

From Claudius Maximus, in all things to endeavour to have power of myself, and in nothing to be carried about; to be cheerful and courageous in all sudden chances and accidents, as in sicknesses: to love mildness, and moderation, and gravity: and to do my business, whatsoever it be, thoroughly, and without querulousness.

fix thy mind upon the thing itself; look into it, and remembering thyself, that thou art bound nevertheless to be a good man, and what it is that thy nature requireth of thee as thou art a man, be not diverted from what thou art about, and speak that which seemeth unto thee most just: only speak it kindly, modestly, and without hypocrisy.

preocuparse de su propio cuerpo con mesura, no como si tuviera apego a la vida, sin llegar al maquillaje pero tampoco desde luego al abandono, de forma que por su propia diligencia precisaba poquísimo de la medicina, de sus medicamentos o ungüentos, de uso interno o externo; ceder

That I have such a wife, so obedient

No imagines las cosas ausentes como ya presentes antes bien, selecciona entre las presentes las más favorables y a la vista de esto, recuerda como las buscarías si no estuvieran presentes. Pero al mismo tiempo ten precaución, no vaya a ser que por complacerte hasta tal punto en su disfrute te habitúes a sobrestimarlas, de manera que, si alguna vez no estuvieran presentes, pudieras sentirte inquieto