Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aureliuswas Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors. He was a practitioner of Stoicism, and his untitled writing, commonly known as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, is the most significant source of our modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth26 April 121
CityRome, Italy
doubly joys life looking past pleasure present taste
The present joys of life we doubly taste by looking back with pleasure on the past
blank consider leaves poet present presents small
When a poet presents you with blank leaves you should consider it no small present
dyed habitual
Such as are your habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.
life thoughts universe
The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.
execute life though thy
Execute every act of thy life as though it were thy last.
flesh ruling whatever
Whatever this is that I am, it is a little flesh and breath, and the ruling part.
befall thee whatever
Whatever may befall thee, it was preordained for thee from everlasting
beautiful beauty complete forms hath none nor praise source whatever worse
Whatever is in any way beautiful hath its source of beauty in itself, and is complete in itself; praise forms no part of it. So it is none the worse nor the better for being praised.
happens watch whatever
Whatever happens at all happens as it should; you will find this true, if you watch narrowly.
board deny last night perfumes
The perfumes at our board last night - Were exquisite, I won't deny it, But we were starved, we were outright, For meat, could no how come by it
black eyes honest man red
With red hair, a black face, a cloven foot, and blear eyes, you show the world a prodigy, Zoilus, if you are an honest man
appear deny neither nor praise rich
You are pretty - we know it; and young - it's true; and rich - who can deny it? But when you praise yourself extravagantly, Fabula, you appear neither rich, nor pretty, nor young