Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

121-180 CE • Roman

Stoicism

Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher. His private Meditations remain one of the most influential works of practical philosophy.

Key Works

  • Meditations
100

quotes in library

Quotes by Marcus Aurelius

100 quotes
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.”
contentmentMeditations
“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature's delight.”
changeMeditations 9.35
“How quickly all things disappear, in the universe the bodies themselves, but in time the remembrance of them.”
impermanenceMeditations 7.10
“Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy mind.”
mindMeditations 5.16
“Take full account of the excellencies which thou possessest, and in gratitude remember how thou wouldst hanker after them, if thou hadst them not.”
gratitudeMeditations 7.27
“When you have done a service to another, what more do you want? Is it not enough that you have acted in conformity with thy nature?”
serviceMeditations 9.42
“He who has a great purpose, even on the rack, can be at peace.”
purposeMeditations
“Nothing happens to anyone that he is not fitted by nature to bear.”
strengthMeditations 5.18
“The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.”
effortMeditations 7.61
“When you are offended at any man's fault, immediately turn to yourself and reflect in what manner you yourself have erred.”
humilityMeditations 10.30
“If a thing is difficult to be accomplished by thyself, do not think that it is impossible for man.”
perseveranceMeditations 6.19
“External things are not the problem. It's your assessment of them.”
mindMeditations 8.47
“If thou workest at that which is before thee, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly, without allowing anything else to distract thee... thou wilt live happy.”
presenceMeditations 3.12
“Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.”
impermanenceMeditations 7.49
“All is ephemeral — fame and the famous as well.”
impermanenceMeditations 4.35
“Death and life, success and failure, pain and pleasure, honor and dishonor, all these things equally happen to good men and bad.”
equanimityMeditations 2.11
“How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks.”
focusMeditations 4.18
“Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm.”
equanimityMeditations 4.49
“And around it the agitated water is laid to rest.”
peaceMeditations 4.49
PreviousPage 3 of 5Next

Explore More Teachers

Discover wisdom from 500+ spiritual teachers across all traditions.

Browse All Teachers