Quotes from book
Meditations
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.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life.”
ἐν ὀλιγίστοις κεῖται τὸ εὐδαιμόνως βιῶσαι
VII, 67
Source: Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VII
“No man is happy who does not think himself so.”
Sentences, The Moral Sayings of Publius Syrus, a Roman Slave
Source: Meditations
IV, 20
Source: Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IV
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
V.20
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book V
Context: In a sense, people are our proper occupation. Our job is to do them good and put up with them. But when they obstruct our proper tasks, they become irrelevant to us--like sun, wind, and animals. Our actions may be impeded by them, but there can be no impeding our intentions or our dispositions. Because we can accommodate and adapt. The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting. The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way. (Hays translation)
IV, 18
Source: Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IV
VI, 28
Source: Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VI
