Marcus Aurelius: Quotes about life

Marcus Aurelius was Emperor of Ancient Rome. Explore interesting quotes on life.
Marcus Aurelius: 800 quotes151 likes

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Hays translation
II, 11
Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book II

“Remember that what pulls the strings is the force hidden within; there lies the power to persuade, there the life,—there, if one must speak out, the real man.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Source: Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book X, 38

“What is my ruling faculty now to me? and of what nature am I now making it? and for what purpose am I now using it? is it void of understanding? is it loosed and rent asunder from social life? is it melted and mixed with the poor flesh so as to move together with it?”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Source: Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book X, 24

“Thou mayest foresee... the things which will be. For they will certainly be of like form, and it is not possible that they should deviate from the order of things now: accordingly to have contemplated human life for forty years is the same as to have contemplated it for ten thousand years.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Source: Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book VII, 49

“Remember that man lives only in the present, in this fleeting instant; all the rest of his life is either past and gone, or not yet revealed. Short, therefore, is man's life, and narrow is the corner of the earth wherein he dwells.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Source: Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book III, 10

“To live your brief life rightly, isn't that enough?”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Hays translation
Source: Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book X, 31

“The only thing that isn't worthless: to live this life out truthfully and rightly. And be patient with those who don't.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Hays translation
Source: Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book VI, 47

“Consider all that you've gone through, all that you've survived. And that the story of your life is done, your assignment complete. How many good things have you seen? How much pain and pleasure have you resisted? How many honors have you declined? How many unkind people have you been kind to?”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Hays translation
Source: Meditations (c. AD 121–180), Book V, 31