Quotes from book
Meditations

Name: Meditations
Author: Marcus Aurelius

Marcus AureliusOriginal 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.

“All those [events in history] were such dramas as we see now, only with different actors.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

X, 27
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book X

“And virtue they will curse, speaking harsh words.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

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

“A horse at the end of the race…A dog when the hunt is over…A bee with its honey stored…And a human being after helping others. They don't make a fuss about it. They just go on to something else, as the vine looks forward to bearing fruit again in season. We should be like that. Acting almost unconsciously.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Hays translation
V, 6
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book V

“No form of Nature is inferior to Art; for the arts merely imitate natural forms.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

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

“Everything is in a state of metamorphosis. Thou thyself art in everlasting change and in corruption to correspond; so is the whole universe.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Meditations. ix. 19.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“Rememberest the gods, and that they wish not to be flattered, but wish all reasonable beings to be made like themselves; and… rememberest that what does the work of a fig-tree is a fig-tree, and that what does the work of a dog is a dog, and that what does the work of a bee is a bee, and that what does the work of a man is a man.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

X, 8
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book X

“Love that only which happens to thee and is spun with the thread of thy destiny. For what is more suitable?”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VII, 57
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VII

“Soon you will have forgotten the world, and soon the world will have forgotten you.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VII, 21
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VII

“All that is harmony for you, my Universe, is in harmony with me as well. Nothing that comes at the right time for you is too early or too late for me. Everything is fruit to me that your seasons bring, Nature. All things come of you, have their being in you, and return to you.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IV, 23
Original: Πᾶν μοι συναρμόζει ὃ σοὶ εὐάρμοστόν ἐστιν, ὦ κόσμε· οὐδέν μοι πρόωρον οὐδὲ ὄψιμον ὃ σοὶ εὔκαιρον. πᾶν μοι καρπὸς ὃ φέρουσιν αἱ σαὶ ὧραι, ὦ φύσις· ἐκ σοῦ πάντα, ἐν σοὶ πάντα, εἰς σὲ πάντα. ἐκεῖνος μέν φησιν·

“From Antisthenes: It is royal to do good and be abused.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

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

“He who fears death either fears to lose all sensation or fears new sensations. In reality, you will either feel nothing at all, and therefore nothing evil, or else, if you can feel any sensations, you will be a new creature, and so will not have ceased to have life.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VIII, 58
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VIII

“Think not disdainfully of death, but look on it with favor; for even death is one of the things that Nature wills.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

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

“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.

“All things are the same,—familiar in enterprise, momentary in endurance, coarse in substance. All things now are as they were in the day of those whom we have buried.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

IX, 14
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IX

“Prize that which is best in the universe; and this is that which useth everything and ordereth everything.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

V, 21
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book V

“It is not right to vex ourselves at things, For they care not about it.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

VII, 38
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book VII

“One man prays thus: How shall I be able to lie with that woman? Do thou pray thus: How shall I not desire to lie with her? Another prays: How shall I be released from this? Another prays: How shall I not desire to be released? Another thus: How shall I not lose my little son? Thou thus: How shall I not be afraid to lose him? In fine, turn thy prayers this way, and see what comes.”

Marcus Aurelius book Meditations

IX, 40
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book IX