“Death hangs over thee: whilst yet thou livest, whilst thou mayest, be good.”
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.
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Marcus Aurelius 400
Emperor of Ancient Rome 121–180Related quotes

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“Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so,”
No. 10, line 1
Holy Sonnets (1633)
Context: Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so,
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
Reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 102.