Quotes by Marcus Aurelius

“ If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. ”

“ I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others. ”

“ If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed. ”

“ Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize? ”

“ Our life is what our thoughts make it. ”

“ Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present. ”

“ Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart. ”

“ It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. ”

“ The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts. ”

“ The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury. ”

“ When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ... ”

“ If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. ”