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
august certainly somewhat
It certainly is uncomfortable for everybody. It's somewhat of an anomaly. We're still in August but temperatures like this are uncommon.
epigram frivolous meant misses thinks
He misses what is meant by epigram - who thinks it only frivolous flimflam
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.
fortune gives none
Fortune gives many too much, but none enough
clue hesitate knowledge life
Knowledge the clue to life can give: Then wherefore hesitate to live
perfume rather smell
I would rather smell of nothing than of perfume
earth lightly rest thee
Rest lightly on her earth, for she trod never heavily on thee
act dignity life observed performance proper proportion remember
Remember this, - that there is a proper dignity and proportion to be observed in the performance of every act of life
life lives loses man nor remember
Remember that no man loses any other life than this which he now lives, nor lives any other than this which he now loses
cut lost nose operation outraged persuaded wife wretched
Who persuaded you to cut off the nose of your wife's lover? Wretched husband, that was not the part which outraged you! Fool, what have you done? Your wife has lost nothing by the operation
admirers crowd dinner eloquent
When the crowd of your admirers is shouting, "Bravo! Hear, hear!" it is not you, Pomponius, but your dinner that is eloquent