Marcus Aurelius Quotes on Politics
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 politics, drawn from across the philosopher's works.
Quotes
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“Of Fronto, to how much envy and fraud and hypocrisy the state of a tyrannous king is subject unto, and how they who are commonly called [Eupatridas Gk.], i.e. nobly born, are in some sort incapable, or void of natural affection.”
I, 8 -
“Doth perfect beauty stand in need of praise at all? Nay; no more than law, no more than truth, no more than loving kindness, nor than modesty.”
Meditations, Book IV | IV, 20 -
“The ruling power within, when it is in its natural state, is so related to outer circumstances that it easily changes to accord with what can be done and what is given it to do.”
Meditations, Book IV | IV, 1 -
“Be straightforward. Look at things like a man, like a human being, like a citizen, like a mortal.”
Meditations, Book IV | IV, 4