Marcus Aurelius ~ Philosopher (Stoic), Military Leader, Roman Emperor (161 - 180)
Anything in any way beautiful derives its beauty from itself and asks nothing beyond itself. Praise is no part of it, for nothing is made worse or better by praise."
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
“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.”
"The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
“How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.”
“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
“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.”
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...”
"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.”
“The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.”
“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.”
"When another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, penetrate inside and see what sort of people they are. You will realize that there is no need to be racked with anxiety that they should hold any particular opinion about you.”
“Life is neither good or evil, but only a place for good and evil.”
“Remember that very little is needed to make a happy life.”
“Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.”
“Receive without conceit, release without struggle.”
"Death smiles at us all, all a man can do is smile back.”
“Humans have come into being for the sake of each other, so either teach them, or learn to bear them.”
"Whoever does wrong, wrongs himself; whoever does injustice, does it to himself, making himself evil.”
“That which is really beautiful has no need of anything; not more than law, not more than truth, not more than benevolence or modesty."
“Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.”
“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?”
“What we do now echoes in eternity.”
“No man is happy who does not think himself so.”
Further reading "Meditations"
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2680
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
“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.”
"The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
“How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.”
“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
“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.”
“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...”
"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.”
“The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.”
“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.”
"When another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, penetrate inside and see what sort of people they are. You will realize that there is no need to be racked with anxiety that they should hold any particular opinion about you.”
“Life is neither good or evil, but only a place for good and evil.”
“Remember that very little is needed to make a happy life.”
“Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.”
“Receive without conceit, release without struggle.”
"Death smiles at us all, all a man can do is smile back.”
“Humans have come into being for the sake of each other, so either teach them, or learn to bear them.”
"Whoever does wrong, wrongs himself; whoever does injustice, does it to himself, making himself evil.”
“That which is really beautiful has no need of anything; not more than law, not more than truth, not more than benevolence or modesty."
“Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.”
“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?”
“What we do now echoes in eternity.”
“No man is happy who does not think himself so.”
Further reading "Meditations"
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2680
Lao Tzu ~ Philosopher (Taoist, 6th Century BCE)
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
“Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
“The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.”
“Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.”
“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”
“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.”
“The best fighter is never angry.”
“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.”
“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
“If you understand others you are smart. If you understand yourself you are illuminated. If you overcome others you are powerful. If you overcome yourself you have strength. If you know how to be satisfied you are rich. If you can act with vigor, you have a will. If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting. If you die without loss, you are eternal.”
“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.”
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
“To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”
Further reading "Tao Te Ching"
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/216
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”
“Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
“The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.”
“Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.”
“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”
“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.”
“The best fighter is never angry.”
“A man with outward courage dares to die; a man with inner courage dares to live.”
“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
“If you understand others you are smart. If you understand yourself you are illuminated. If you overcome others you are powerful. If you overcome yourself you have strength. If you know how to be satisfied you are rich. If you can act with vigor, you have a will. If you don't lose your objectives you can be long-lasting. If you die without loss, you are eternal.”
“Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.”
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”
“To attain knowledge, add things everyday. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.”
Further reading "Tao Te Ching"
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/216