Authors
Marcus Aurelius
121 – 180
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who ruled almost 2,000 years ago and was also a thoughtful philosopher. He is remembered as the last of the "Five Good Emperors" who guided Rome through a long stretch of relative peace and prosperity. While leading his empire, and even while commanding troops on military campaigns, he wrote private notes to himself in Greek about how to stay calm, fair, and wise — never meant for publication, they were later collected into a famous book called Meditations. He is remembered as one of the rare rulers who tried hard to be genuinely good.
Quotes
“You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”
“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.”
“We are made for co-operation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids, like the rows of the upper and lower teeth.”
“The best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrong doer.”
“Give thyself time to learn something new and good, and cease to be whirled around.”
“Men exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then, or bear with them.”
“Look round at the courses of the stars, as if thou wert going along with them.”