Marcus Aurelius is one of the most cited Roman philosophers, whose reign was called the Golden Age in the history of Rome. He deservedly received the nickname of the “philosopher on the throne,” and after his death he was officially elevated to the divine rank. At one time, Marcus Aurelius was known for his high moral standards, education and erudition.
Wise emperor
Quotes by Marcus Aurelius still do not lose their relevance. The emperor belonged to the school of late stoicism and believed that all people should be equally accountable to the law - both slaves and free. With his assistance, the liberation of slaves in Rome was faster, and the use of torture was subject to significant restrictions. Many of Marcus Aurelius’s quotes are from his Reflections. “Do not give up, do not give up, stray, come back again and rejoice,” wrote the emperor philosopher. The principles set forth in his writings, he applied in his own life.
Philosopher's worldview
From the age of 19, Marcus Aurelius held the post of consul and even then was distinguished by a simple but strict disposition. Despite his youth, in his youth, thanks to his hard work and education, he was a candidate for questors. In 138, he took this position, and from 161 to 169 he ruled simultaneously with his named brother Lucius Ver. In his worldview, he was close to a stoic philosophical school. “Life is a struggle and wandering in a foreign land” - in this quote, Marcus Aurelius spoke primarily about himself and his biography. Indeed, despite the fact that he himself was an opponent of war and violence, throughout his life he had to constantly participate in battles.
Quotes useful to everyone.
The philosopher wrote: “Chasing the impossible is crazy. But the worthless do just that. ” Marcus Aurelius in his writings tried to outline the most rational way to achieve the goal. If a person sets the bar too high, then all he can count on is sympathy from those around him. By correlating the philosopher’s saying with real life, one can see that this is indeed so. If, for example, a middle-aged man is trying to build a sports career, most likely his attempts will be doomed to failure. Such behavior can be called irrational, because, despite hard training, the body will not be as flexible and resilient as in youth.
Transience of time
Another quote from Marcus Aurelius teaches us to observe the speed of the passage of time: “Think more often about the speed with which everything sweeps and leaves.” It is known that time as such cannot change. But his perception in human consciousness is subject to constant change. Man is a being who perceives reality through the prism of his experience. And so for him, time flows non-linearly. To remember that our life is fleeting means to use our days to the maximum benefit.
Parting words from the philosopher
Quotes and aphorisms of Marcus Aurelius will be able to decorate any blog or page on a social network. They will appeal not only to those who want to show off their erudition, but also to everyone who wants to share the wisdom of the famous philosopher. Here is what the philosopher writes: “If you knew from what source human judgments flow, you would cease to solicit approval from people.” Many people are not even aware of what is really behind the words of others trying to control them. They unconsciously or consciously strive to get approval from others, not knowing that, probably, the great philosopher and emperor passed through their own experience. Such people are very sensitive to the opinions of others, constantly want to receive praise. However, they are not aware of the motivation of those who condemn or approve of their actions.
Another quote from the philosopher teaches that the evil often happens right before our eyes, but is not noticed by us: "Vice - what is it? What you often saw." Often condemnation comes from simple envy. People gossip among themselves or directly condemn other people's actions only for the reason that they themselves would like to have what the other has - his abilities, health, youth, money, social status. And this is just one example of vice and motivated actions.
Quotes of Marcus Aurelius about life will be interesting to young and old, rich and poor. “Our life is what we think of it,” the philosopher wrote. With this conclusion, which is already hundreds of years old, modern psychologists agree. You can look at the same life event from different points of view. For example, the dismissal from work for some will be a reason for a long depression, and for some it will be an opportunity to re-arrange your life again, getting a job in a new company.
Phrases in Latin
Quotes of Marcus Aurelius in Latin will be of interest to many. Here is one of these sayings: Qui facturus est, sive beysya sicut et tibi (“No matter how much you fight, people will do the same thing”). Psychologists warn that it is dangerous to try to change another person, because the character in adulthood practically does not change. You can only change yourself - in most cases, attempts to change others are doomed to failure. Another wise phrase sounds like this: Omnia nunc - et nunc aeternitatis (“Everything present is a moment of eternity”). Here the philosopher emphasizes that man lives only in the present. In every moment of life, eternity is enclosed.