“Thou sufferest justly: for thou choosest rather to become good to-morrow than to be good to-day.”

— Marcus Aurelius , book Meditations

VIII, 22
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VIII

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Thou sufferest justly: for thou choosest rather to become good to-morrow than to be good to-day." by Marcus Aurelius?

Marcus Aurelius 400

Emperor of Ancient Rome 121–180

Related quotes

“If thou intend to do any good; tarry not till to-morrow! for thou knowest not what may chance thee this night.”

Pythagoras (-585–-495 BC) ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher

The Sayings of the Wise (1555)

“TO-MORROW, to-morrow, thou loveliest May,
To-morrow will rise up thy first-born day;
Bride of the summer, child of the spring,
To-morrow the year will its favourite bring:”

Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1802–1838) English poet and novelist

The Golden Violet - title poem - introduction
The Golden Violet (1827)

“Death hangs over thee: whilst yet thou livest, whilst thou mayest, be good.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

IV, 14 (trans. Meric Casaubon)
τὸ χρεὼν ἐπήρτηται· ἕως ζῇς, ἕως ἔξεστιν, ἀγαθὸς γενοῦ.
IV, 17 (trans.George Long)
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IV
Variant: Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.

“If thou wilt use these Words aright, and art in good Earnest, thou shalt certainly find the Benefit thereof.”

Jakob Böhme The Way to Christ

Preface
The Way to Christ (1622)
Context: If thou wilt use these Words aright, and art in good Earnest, thou shalt certainly find the Benefit thereof. But I desire thou mayest be warned, if thou art not in Earnest, not to meddle with the dear Names of God, in and by which the most High Holiness is invoked, moved, and powerfully desired, lest they kindle the Anger of God in thy Soul. For we must not abuse the Holy Names of God. This little Book is only for those that would fain repent, and are in a Desire to begin. Such will find what Manner of Words therein, and whence they are born. Be you herewith commended to the Eternal Goodness and Mercy of God.

“Be not as one that hath ten thousand years to live; death is nigh at hand: while thou livest, while thou hast time, be good.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Meditations. iv. 17.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“With what reason canst thou expect that thy children should follow thy good instructions, when thou thyself givest them an ill example? Thou dost but as it were beckon to them with thy head, and shew them the way to heaven by thy good counsel, but thou takest them by the hand and leadest them in the way to hell by thy contrary example.”

John Tillotson (1630–1694) Archbishop of Canterbury

Sermon 62: On the Education of Children, in The Works of Dr. John Tillotson (1772) edited by Thomas Birch, Vol 3, p. 197; this is more commonly quoted as modernized and paraphrased by John Charles Ryle, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool (1880–1900): "To give children good instruction, and a bad example, is but a beckoning to them with the head to show them the way to heaven, while we take them by the hand and lead them in the way to hell."