Quotes from Marcus Aurelius

Don't give up if you fail to follow your principles — don't give up, but simply pick yourself up and return to them. Remember that these principles are in line with your true self, and what you fell to was not.

Discard everything except these few truths: we can live only in the present moment, in this brief now; all the rest of our life is dead and buried or shrouded in uncertainty. Short is the life we lead, and small our patch of earth.

One thing, if any, might have held you back and bound you to life; the chance of fellowship with kindred minds.

virtudes estoicas que debían regir su vida: sinceridad, sencillez y valor.

External things are not the problem. It's your assessment of them, which you can erase right now

The closer a person is to calm, the closer they are to strength.

As the senses naturally belong to the body, and the desires and affections to the soul, so do the dogmata to the understanding.

If then your eyes have really seen where the truth lies, do not care any more what men shall think of you, but be content if the rest of you life, whether long or short, be lived as your nature wills.

The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.

En cada una de tus acciones, hazte la pregunta ¿Cómo me va en eso?¿no tendré luego que arrepentirme de aquello? Dentro de poco habré muerto y todo se acabara ¿Qué mas puedo buscar, si obro al presente como un ser inteligente, sociable, relacionado, por igualdad de derechos con Dios?

Acostumbrarme a la idea de que es necesario corregir el carácter y vigilar las inclinaciones

No mostrar nunca la apariencia de cólera ni de ninguna otra pasión

what stands in the way is the way

As for that which is truly good, what can it stand in need of more than either justice or truth; or more than either kindness and modesty? Which of all those, either becomes good or fair, because commended; or dispraised suffers any damage? Doth the emerald become worse in itself, or more vile if it be not commended?

Love only what befalls thee and is spun for thee by fate. For what can be more befitting for thee?

The soul becomes dyed with the colours of its thoughts.

We are each of us stronger than we think.

Look within. Within is the fountain of Good, ready always to well forth if thou wilt alway delve.

Bethink thee how much more grievous are the consequences of our anger and vexation at such actions than are the acts themselves which arouse that anger and vexation.

If he be a stranger in the world, that knows not the things that are in it; why not be a stranger as well, that wonders at the the things that are done in it?

Do not feel qualms or despondency or discomfiture if thou dost not invariably succeed in acting from right principles; but when thou art foiled, come back again to them, and rejoice if on the whole thy conduct is worthy of a man, and love the course to which thou returnest.

The business of life is more akin to wrestling than dancing, for it requires of us to stand ready and unshakable against every assault however unforeseen.

Each of us lives only now, in this brief instant. The rest of our life has been lived already, or is impossible to see because it lies in the unknowable future.

The nature of the universe delights in nothing more, than in altering those things that are, and in making others like unto them. So that we may say, that whatsoever it is, is but as it were the seed of that which shall be.