Marcus Aurelius
Cues
Showing 20 of 27 cues
“As you move forward along the path of reason, people will stand in your way. They will never be able to keep you from doing what’s sound, so don’t let them knock out your goodwill for them. Keep a steady watch on both fronts, not only for well-based judgments and actions, but also for gentleness with those who would obstruct our path or create other difficulties. For getting angry is also a weakness, just as much as abandoning the task or surrendering under panic.”
“When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own; not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine.”
“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.”
“It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”
“It is possible to curb your arrogance, to overcome pleasure and pain, to rise above your ambition, and to not be angry with stupid and ungrateful people; yes, even to care for them.”
“In your actions, don’t procrastinate. In your conversations, don’t confuse. In your thoughts, don’t wander. In your soul, don’t be passive or aggressive. In your life, don’t be all about business.”
“If it is not right, do not do it, if it is not true, do not say it.”
“It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet.”
“If someone asks you how to write your name, would you bark out each letter? And if they get angry, would you then return the anger? Wouldn’t you rather gently spell out each letter for them? So then, remember in life that your duties are the sum of individual acts. Pay attention to each of these as you do your duty ... just methodically complete your task.”
“You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.”
“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be One.”
“If anyone can refute me; show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective; I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone.”
“To help others and be eager to share, not to be a pessimist, and never to doubt your friends’ affection for you.”
“Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.”
“Whatever anyone does or says, I must be emerald and keep my colour.”
“To accept without arrogance, to let it go with indifference.”
“If you can, show them the better way. If you cannot, remember that this is why you have the gift of kindness. The Gods too are kind to such people, and in their benevolence even help them achieve some ends - health, wealth, fame. You can do it too. Or tell me - who is stopping you?”
“Let your every deed and thought be those of one who might depart from life this very moment.”
What did they think they gained?
When injured, ask: what good or harm did this person think would come of their action? Is my sense of good and evil the same as theirs, or different?