Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

How plain does it appear that there is not another condition of life so well suited for philosophising as this in which thou now happenest to be.

Neopovrhuj smrÃ…Â¥ou, ale spriate? sa s ?ou, lebo aj ona je jedným z toho, ?o chce prirodzenosÃ…Â¥.

Of everything thou must consider from whence it came, of what things it doth consist, and into what it will be changed: what will be the nature of it, or what it will be like unto when it is changed; and that it can suffer no hurt by this change.

No que toca a tua sede por livros, apressa-te em repudiá-la para que não venhas a morrer em murmúrios e resmungos, mas sim de uma maneira propícia e autêntica e agradecendo de coração aos deuses.8

Most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you'll have more time and tranquility. Ask yourself at every moment, Is this necessary?

Remember, that to change thy mind upon occasion, and to follow him that is able to rectify thee, is equally ingenuous, as to find out at the first, what is right and just, without help. For of thee nothing is required, ti, is beyond the extent of thine own deliberation and jun. merit, and of thine own understanding.

If once round and solid, there is no fear that ever it will change.

that everything has always been the same, and keeps recurring, and it makes no difference whether you see the same things recur in a hundred years or two hundred, or in an infinite period; ii. that the longest-lived and those who will die soonest lose the same thing. The present is all that they can give up, since that is all you have, and what you do not have, you cannot lose.

61. To enter others' minds and let them enter yours.

2.12 Es propio de la facultad inteligente fijarse en cómo desaparece rápidamente todo, las propias personas en el universo, los recuerdos de esas personas en el tiempo; en

No hay nada más desventurado que quien recorre todo en derredor, explora »lo que está debajo de la tierra«, dice[193], e investiga en las almas de los que están cerca mediante el uso de indicios[194], sin darse cuenta de que basta estar sólo ante el espíritu divino que está dentro de uno mismo y ser su servidor de verdad. Este

Death is relief from reaction to the senses, from the puppet strings of impulse, from the analytical mind, and from service to the flesh.

We were born to work together like feet, hands, and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural.

Nature did not blend things so inextricably that you can't draw your own boundaries—place your own well-being in your own hands. It's quite possible to be a good man without anyone realizing it. Remember that.

He sido compuesto de causa formal y materia; ninguno de esos dos elementos acabará en el no ser, del mismo modo que tampoco surgieron del no ser. Por consiguiente, cualquier parte mía será asignada por transformación a una parte del universo; a su vez aquélla se transformará en otra parte del universo, y así hasta el infinito.

He that knoweth not what the world is, knoweth not where he himself is. And he that knoweth not what the world was made for, cannot possibly know either what are the qualities, or what is the nature of the world.

When thou art offended with any man's shameless conduct, immediately ask thyself, Is it possible then that such men should not be in the world? It is not possible. Do not then require what is impossible. ... For at the same time that thou dost remind thyself that it is impossible that such kind of men should not exist, thou wilt become more kindly disposed towards every one individually.

We are all mere nuggets of incense on the one altar. Some burn down now , some later - there is no difference .

Now a man should take away not only unnecessary acts, but also, unnecessary thoughts, for thus superfluous acts will not follow after. Try

Indeed, no one can thwart the purposes of your mind—for they can't be touched by fire, steel, tyranny, slander, or anything.

Let no one have the chance to accuse you, with any truth, of not being sincere or a good man. Make sure that anyone taking that view of you is a liar. This is wholly up to you -- who is there to prevent you being good and sincere?

that it is not the sins and transgressions themselves that trouble us properly; for they have their existence in their minds and understandings only, that commit them; but our own opinions concerning those sins. Remove then, and be content to part with that conceit of thine, that it is a grievous thing, and thou hast removed thine anger.

XXIX. As they that long after figs in winter when they cannot be had; so are they that long after children, before they be granted them. XXX.

De mi padre[144] la gentileza, la firmeza sin oscilación en decisiones previamente analizadas; no vanagloriarse en lo que se considera motivo de honras; ser amigo del esfuerzo y perseverar; prestar oídos a quien tiene algo en bien del común que proponer; no dejarse pervertir al distribuir a cada