1001Philosophers

Marcus Aurelius Quotes on Virtue

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 virtue, drawn from across the philosopher's works.

Quotes

  • Attributed to Marcus Aurelius:

    “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”

  • Attributed to Marcus Aurelius:

    “Begin each day by telling yourself: today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will, and selfishness — all of them due to the offenders' ignorance of what is good or evil.”

  • Attributed to Marcus Aurelius:

    “Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, and do so with all your heart.”

  • Attributed to Marcus Aurelius:

    “If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”