Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

Acuérdate siempre que no se pierde otra vida que la que se vive y que solo se vive la que se pierde. Así­ la mas larga vida y la mas corta vienen a reducirse a lo mismo. El momento presente que se vive es igual para todos el que se pierde lo es también, y este que se pierde llega a parecernos indivisible. Y es que no se pierde el pasado ni el futuro, pues lo que no poseemos ¿Cómo puede sernos arrebatado

Short is the little which remains to thee in life. Live as on a mountain.

Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear.

tactful treatment of all his friends, so that simply to be with him was more delightful than any flattery, while at the same time those who enjoyed this privilege looked up to him with the utmost reverence

Be not whirled aside; but in every impulse fulfil the claims of justice, and in every impression safeguard certainty.

All that is in tune with thee, O Universe, is in tune with me! Nothing that is in due time for thee is too early or too late for me! All that thy seasons bring, O Nature, is fruit for me! All things come from thee, subsist in thee, go back to thee.

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

Men are born for the sake of each other. So either teach or tolerate.

You don't have to turn this into something. It doesn't have to upset you.

Foolish are those who…have no aim to which they can direct every impulse and, indeed, every thought.

It is in our power to have no opinion about a thing, and not to be disturbed in our soul, for things themselves have no natural power to form our judgments.

if all men disbelieve in his living a simple and modest and cheerful life, he is not wroth with any of them, nor swerves from the path which leads to his life's goal, whither he must go pure, peaceful, ready for release, needing no force to bring him into accord with his lot.

nothing is but what thinking makes it.

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

become aware of the fact that I needed amendment and training for my character;

In a moment the earth will cover us all. Then the earth too will change, and then further successive changes to infinity. One reflecting on these waves of change and transformation, and the speed of their flow, will hold all mortal things in contempt.

Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just. Then they will not care how devout you have been. But will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods then you will be gone but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of the loves ones.

love of family, love of truth, love of justice, and (thanks to him!) to know Thrasea, Helvidius, Cato, Dion, Brutus; and the conception of a state with one law for all, based upon individual equality and freedom of speech, and of a sovrainty which prizes above all things the liberty of the subject;

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them. Think constantly on the changes of the elements into each other, for such thoughts wash away the dust of earthly life.

The obstacle is the way.

Uno se deleita en una cosa, el otro en otra. Pero yo me deleito en conservar sano mi principio rector, sin experimentar aversión por hombre alguno, ni por cosa alguna que acontezca a los hombres, antes bien mirándolo todo con buenos ojos, aceptando y usando de cada cosa según su merito.

Certainly He who governs the Whole will make good use of you and welcome you into some part of the joint workforce: but just make sure that your part is not that of the cheap and vulgar line in the comedy, as noted by Chrysippus.

Remind yourself of what you've been through and what you've had the strength to endure.

This is the mark of a perfect character, to pass through each day as if it were the last, without agitation, without torpor, without pretence.