Marcus Aurelius

0121 – 0180

Born in Rome, Italy

Was a soldier, statesman, judge, senator, consul, and philosopher

Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD

His reign marked the Golden Age of Rome

Was the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome

Studied and applied stoic philosophy throughout his life

At the time of his death, he was one of the most powerful people on earth

Known as the last famous Stoic of the ancient world

Influenced many people through his writings, including famous historical figures such as”

• Adam Smith – the author of Wealth of Nations
• Benjamin Franklin

Meditations – a journal of personal reflections of Marcus Aurelius written in his later years.  It was never meant for formal publication, yet has influenced the lives of many.

Affirmations

You can remove out of the way many useless things among those which disturb you, for they lie entirely in your opinion;
and you will then gain for yourself ample space for comprehending the whole universe in your mind

Marcus Aurelius

There is no one who hinders you from always doing and saying the things which are according to the nature of which you are a part.

Marcus Aurelius

It is not fit that I should give myself pain,
for I have never intentionally given pain even to another.

Marcus Aurelius

But if anything in your own disposition gives you pain,
who hinders you from correcting your opinion?

Marcus Aurelius

You can pass through life in an undisturbed flow of happiness
if you can take the right path and think and act in the right way.

Marcus Aurelius

I affirm that tranquility is nothing else than the good ordering of the mind.

Marcus Aurelius

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.

Marcus Aurelius

Visualization Board

Never value anything as profitable to yourself which shall compel you
to break your promise,
to lose your self-respect,
to hate any man,
to suspect,
to curse,
to act the hypocrite,
to desire anything which needs walls and curtains…

Marcus Aurelius

Habits and Habit Tracker

Habitual thoughts also will be the character of the mind;
because the soul is dyed by the thoughts.
Dye it then with a continuous series of such thoughts as these: for instance,
that where a man can live, there he can also live well.

Marcus Aurelius

Reflect and Review

Everywhere and at all times, it is in your power to accept your present condition,
and to behave justly to those who are with you,
and to exert your skill upon your present thoughts,
that nothing shall steal them without being well examined.

Marcus Aurelius

Those who do not observe the movements of their own minds
must of necessity be unhappy.

Marcus Aurelius