Quotes from book
Meditations

Meditations
Marcus Aurelius Original title Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτὸν

Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy.

Marcus Aurelius photo

“He that dies in extreme old age will be reduced to the same state with him that is cut down untimely.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

IX, 33
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IX

Marcus Aurelius photo

“Reverence the gods, and help men. Short is life.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VI, 30
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VI

Marcus Aurelius photo

“Every being ought to do that which is according to its constitution; and all other things have been constituted for the sake of the superior, but the rational for the sake of one another.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VII, 55
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VII

Marcus Aurelius photo

“Many the lumps of frankincense on the same altar; one falls there early and another late, but it makes no difference.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

IV, 15
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IV

Marcus Aurelius photo

“There is no nature which is inferior to art, the arts imitate the nature of things.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

XI, 10
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book XI

Marcus Aurelius photo

“But if we judge only those things which are in our power to be good or bad, there remains no reason either for finding fault with God or standing in a hostile attitude to man.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VI, 41
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VI

Marcus Aurelius photo

“The nature of the universe is the nature of things that are. Now, things that are have kinship with things that are from the beginning. Further, this nature is styled Truth; and it is the first cause of all that is true.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Source: Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IX, 1

Marcus Aurelius photo

“There is a limit to the time assigned you, and if you don't use it to free yourself it will be gone and never return.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Hays translation
II, 4
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book II

Marcus Aurelius photo

“By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

IV, 3
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IV

Marcus Aurelius photo

“About fame… Just as the sand-dunes, heaped one upon another, hide each the first, so in life the former deeds are quickly hidden by those that follow after.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VII, 34
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VII

Marcus Aurelius photo

“The whole contains nothing which is not or its advantage; and all natures indeed have this common principle, but the nature of the universe has this principle besides, that it cannot be compelled even by any external cause to generate anything harmful to itself.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Source: Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book X, 6

Marcus Aurelius photo

“It is not fit that I should give myself pain, for I have never intentionally given pain even to another.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VIII, 42
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VIII

Marcus Aurelius photo

“Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains; and thou too art wont to desire such things very much. But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself. For nowhere either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Variant translation: Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.
IV, 3.
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IV

Marcus Aurelius photo

“I consist of a little body and a soul.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VI, 32
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VI

Marcus Aurelius photo

“Consider that everything is opinion, and opinion is in thy power.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

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

Marcus Aurelius photo

“All things are changing; and thou thyself art in continuous mutation and in a manner in continuous destruction and the whole universe to.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

IX, 19
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IX

Marcus Aurelius photo

“Remember that all is opinion.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Ὅτι πᾶν ὑπόληψις.
II, 15
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book II

Marcus Aurelius photo

“No longer let thy breathing only act in concert with the air which surrounds thee, but let thy intelligence also now be in harmony with the intelligence which embraces all things. For the intelligent power is no less diffused in all parts and pervades all things for him who is willing to draw it to him than the aërial power for him who is able to respire it.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Source: Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VIII, 54

Marcus Aurelius photo

“This thou must always bear in mind, what is the nature of the whole…”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Τούτων ἀεὶ μεμνῆσθαι, τίς ἡ τῶν ὅλων φύσις
II, 9
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book II

Marcus Aurelius photo

“The rottenness of the matter which is the foundation of everything!”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

IX, 36
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IX