Voice

Marcus Aurelius

121–180 CEStoicismClassical (200 BCE – 600 CE)Person

Marcus Aurelius was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 CE and a lifelong student of Stoic philosophy. The private notes he wrote to himself, known as the Meditations, are among the most widely read works of Stoicism.

References

Works

Meditations

Quotes (9)

“Our life is short; we must endeavour to gain the present time with best discretion and justice.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV, tr. Meric Casaubon
VerifiedsourceMaxim: Be present: the here and now is where life happens.Translation: public-domain translation (Casaubon)
“and so that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act; and that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book V.20, tr. George Long
Watch on YouTube: David Goggins: Embrace Suffering (Tom Bilyeu) ↗David Goggins and Tom Bilyeu discuss this idea
VerifiedsourceMaxim: Find meaning in the struggle itself.Translation: public-domain translation (George Long)
“Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV.17, tr. George Long
Watch on YouTube: Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford address ↗Steve Jobs discusses this idea
VerifiedsourceMaxim: Remember that you will die, and live well today.Translation: public-domain translation (George Long)
“It is peculiar to man to love even those who do wrong.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book VII.22, tr. George Long
VerifiedsourceMaxim: Forgive, and keep forgiving.Translation: public-domain translation (George Long)
“Time is like a river made up of the events which happen, and a violent stream; for as soon as a thing has been seen, it is carried away, and another comes in its place, and this will be carried away too.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV.43, tr. George Long
VerifiedsourceMaxim: Everything passes; hold things lightly.Translation: public-domain translation (George Long)
“Nothing for me is too early nor too late, which is in due time for thee. Everything is fruit to me which thy seasons bring, O Nature:”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations IV.23, tr. George Long
VerifiedsourceMaxim: There is a time for everything; give your days a rhythm.Translation: public-domain translation (George Long)
“Occupy thyself with few things, says the philosopher, if thou wouldst be tranquil.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations IV.24, tr. George Long (kept as a related saying about focus; not used as independent attestation of the 80/20 rule)
Watch on YouTube: Greg McKeown: Essentialism (Talks at Google) ↗Greg McKeown discusses doing less, but better
VerifiedsourceMaxim: A few causes drive most results (the 80/20 rule).Translation: public-domain translation (George Long)
“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, Meditations, Book IV.3, tr. George Long
VerifiedsourceMaxim: Make time for stillness.Translation: public-domain translation (George Long)
“He who acts unjustly acts impiously.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IX.1, tr. George Long
VerifiedsourceMaxim: Do what is just, even when it costs you.Translation: public-domain translation (George Long)