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A noble man compares and estimates himself by an idea which is higher than himself and a mean man, by one lower than himself. The one produces aspiration the other ambition, which is the way in which a vulgar man aspires.

Marcus Aurelius

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Marcus Aurelius
Philosopher
Politician
Roman Emperor
Writer
The Eternal City
Emperor of Rome Marcus Aurelius
Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus
Emperor of Rome Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Marcus Annius Verus
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
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Vulgar
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Aspire
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More quotes by Marcus Aurelius

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The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject.
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Try to live the life of the good man who is more than content with what is allocated to him.
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Everything is interwoven, and the web is holy none of its parts are unconnected. They are composed harmoniously, and together - they compose the world.
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Why should a man have any apprehension about the change and dissolution of all the elements? For it is according to nature, and nothing is evil which is according to nature.
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The greatest part of what we say and do is really unnecessary. If a man takes this to heart, he will have more leisure and less uneasiness.
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Neither in writing nor in reading wilt thou be able to lay down rules for others before thou shalt have first learned to obey rules thyself.
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Where a man can live, he can also live well.
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Put it out of the power of truth to give you an ill character. If anybody reports you not to be an honest man let your practice give him the lie.
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Look within, for within is the wellspring of virtue, which will not cease flowing, if you cease not from digging.
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Unhappy am I because this has happened to me.- Not so, but happy am I, though this has happened to me, because I continue free from pain, neither crushed by the present nor fearing the future.
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When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it.
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I will march on in the path of nature till my legs sink under me, and then I shall be at rest, and expire into that air which has given me my daily breath.
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Flinch not, neither give up nor despair, if the achieving of every act in accordance with right principle is not always continuous with thee.
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Persuade me or prove to me that I am mistaken in thought or deed, and I will gladly change - for it is the truth I seek, and the truth never harmed anyone. Harm comes from persisting in error and clinging to ignorance.
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Because a thing is difficult for you, do not therefore suppose it to be beyond mortal power. On the contrary, if anything is possible and proper for man to do, assume that it must fall within your own capacity.
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The true joy of humankind is in doing that which is most proper to our nature and the first property of people is to be kindly affected towards them that are of one kind with ourselves.
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...small too even the longest fame thereafter, which is itself subject to a succession of little men who quickly die, and have no knowledge of themselves, let alone of those long dead.
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It is a disgrace to let ignorance and vanity do more with us than prudence and principle.
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Live out your life in truth and justice, tolerant of those who are neither true nor just.
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Men seek out retreats for themselves in the country, by the seaside, on the moutains . . . But all this is unphilosophical to the last degree . . . when thou canst at a moment's notice retire into thyself.
Marcus Aurelius