These are among my favorite observations by Marcus Aurelius:

o The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.

o Poverty is the mother of crime.

o The universe is transformation: life is opinion.

o Life is neither good or evil, but only a place for good and evil.

o 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.

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

o The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.

o 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.

o He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.

o The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.

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Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with his adoptive brother, Lucius Verus, until Verus’ death in 169, and with his son, Commodus, from 177. He was the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors.

To learn more about him, please click here.