Quotes from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Every living organism is fulfilled when it follows the right path for its own nature.

All men are made one for another: either then teach them better or bear with them.

The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.

All things fade and quickly turn to myth.

From the philosopher Catulus, never to be dismissive of a friend's accusation, even if it seems unreasonable, but to make every effort to restore the relationship to its normal condition.

The world is mere change, and this life, opinion.

Swiftly the remembrance of all things is buried in the gulf of eternity.

The things you think about determine the quality of your mind.

Even the least of our activities ought to have some end in view.

Think not so much of what you lack as of what you have: but of the things that you have, select the best, and then reflect on how eagerly you would have sought them if you did not have them.

It is in your own power to maintain the beauty of your soul, or to be a decent human being.

When you arise in the moring, think of what a precious privelege it is to be alive-- to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love

No man is happy who does not think himself so.

Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?

It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.

Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.

The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.

Humans have come into being for the sake of each other, so either teach them, or learn to bear them.

Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?

Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not "This is misfortune, " but "To bear this worthily is good fortune.

How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbour says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy.

Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to throw away. Death stands at your elbow. Be good for something while you live and it is in your power.

striid andWthdraw into yourself. Our master-reason asks no more than to act justly, and thereby to achieve calm.

Be your own master, and look at things as a man, as a human being, as a citizen, as a mortal creature.