Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

That thou mayest not die murmuring, but cheerfully, truly, and from thy heart thankful to the gods.

Practice even at the things that you have lost all hope of achieving. For the left hand, though inefficient at everything else through lack of practice, is more powerful than the right when it comes to gripping the bridle; for it has had good practice at that.

You want the praise of people who kick themselves every 15 minutes. The praise of people who despise themselves?

Always have these two principles in readiness. First, to do only what the reason inherent in kingly and judicial power prescribes for the benefit of mankind. Second, to change your ground, if in fact there is someone to correct and guide you away from some notion.

But your conversion should always rest on a conviction that it's right, or benefits others—nothing else. Not because it's more appealing or more popular.

A straightforward, honest person should be like someone who stinks: when you're in the same room with him, you know it. But false straightforwardness is like a knife in the back.

In our relationships with others we must work for their collective good, while treating them justly and fairly as individuals.

It was my tutor who dissuaded me from patronizing Green or Blue at the races, or Light or Heavy in the ring;

Someone despises me. That's their problem. Mine: not to do or say anything despicable. Someone hates me. Their problem. Mine: to be patient and cheerful with everyone, including them. Ready to show them their mistake. Not spitefully, or to show off my own self-control, but in an honest, upright way.

Fear of death is fear of what we may experience. Nothing at all, or something quite new. But if we experience nothing, we can experience nothing bad. And if our experience changes, then our existence will change with it—change, but not cease.

How the mind can participate in the sensations of the body and yet maintain its serenity, and focus on its own well-being.

There is one universe out of all things, one god pervading all things, one substance, one law, one common reason in all intelligent beings, and one truth.