Quotes by Marcus Aurelius

“ You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can't control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone. ”

“ Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not "This is misfortune," but "To bear this worthily is good fortune. ”

“ Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good. ”

“ Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what's left and live it properly. What doesn't transmit light creates its own darkness. ”

“ The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are. ”

“ When another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, penetrate inside and see what sort of people they are. You will realize that there is no need to be racked with anxiety that they should hold any particular opinion about you. ”

“ How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it. ”

“ Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears. ”

“ Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. ”

“ The best revenge is not to be like your enemy. ”

“ Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking. ”

“ The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ”