Marcus Aurelius Quotes on Justice
Marcus Aurelius was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors. This page collects quotes attributed to Marcus Aurelius on the topic of justice, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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“From Apollonius , true liberty, and unvariable steadfastness, and not to regard anything at all, though never so little, but right and reason: and always..that it was possible for the same man to be both vehement and remiss: a man not subject to be vexed, and offended with the incapacity of his scholars and auditors in his lectures and expositions.”
I, 5 -
“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”
Meditations, Book II | II, 11 -
“How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy.”
Meditations, Book IV | IV, 18 -
“Retire into thyself. The rational principle which rules has this nature, that it is content with itself when it does what is just, and so secures tranquility.”
Meditations, Book VII | VII, 28 -
“To change your mind and to follow him who sets you right is to be nonetheless the free agent that you were before.”
Meditations, Book VIII | Remember that to change thy opinion and to follow him who corrects thy error is as consistent with freedom as it is to persist in thy error. (Long translation) VIII, 16 -
“In the constitution of that rational animal I see no virtue which is opposed to justice, but I see a virtue which is opposed to love of pleasure, and that is temperance .”
Meditations, Book VIII | VIII, 39 -
“The happiness and unhappiness of the rational, social animal depends not on what he feels but on what he does; just as his virtue and vice consist not in feeling but in doing.”
Meditations, Book IX | IX, 16 -
“Think on this doctrine,—that reasoning beings were created for one another's sake; that to be patient is a branch of justice, and that men sin without intending it.”
Meditations, Book IV | IV, 3 -
“Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn't matter. Cold or warm. Tired or well-rested. Despised or honored. Dying . . . or busy with other assignments.”
Meditations, Book VI | VI, 2