Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

It is no evil for things to undergo change, and no good for things to subsist in consequence of change. 43.

Neither worse then nor better is a thing made by being praised.

And he who pursues pleasure will not abstain from injustice, and this is plainly impiety.

Perfection of character: to live your last day, every day, without frenzy, or sloth, or pretense

Now forget what they think of you. Be satisfied if you can live the rest of your life, however short, as your nature demands. Focus on that, and don't let anything distract you. You've wandered all over and finally realized that you never found what you were after: how to live. Not in syllogisms, not in money, or fame, or self-indulgence. Nowhere.

Continually, and, if possible, in the case of every mental image, consider its nature, realize its emotional content, and judge it rationally.

But cast away the thirst after books, that thou mayest not die murmuring, but cheerfully, truly, and from thy heart thankful to the gods.

Fire feeds on obstacles.

And those who complain and try to obstruct and thwart things—they help as much as anyone. The world needs them as well.

To love only what happens, what was destined. No greater harmony.

These two things be common to the souls, as of God, so of men, and of every reasonable creature, first that in their own proper work hey cannot be hindered by anything: and secondly, that their happiness doth consist in a disposition to, and in the practice of righteousness; and that in these their desire is terminated.

He who is greedy of credit and reputation after his death, doth not consider, that they themselves by whom he is remembered, shall soon after every one of them be dead; and they likewise that succeed those; until at last all memory, which hitherto by the succession of men admiring and soon after dying hath had its course, be quite extinct.