Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Quotes on Mind (9 Quotes)

I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things thathappen to us come because we actually deserve them So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe.

Remember how often you have postponed minding your interest, and let slip those opportunities the gods have given you. It is now high time to consider what sort of world you are part of, and from what kind of governor of it you are descended that you have a set period assigned you to act in, and unless you improve it to brighten and compose your thoughts, it will quickly run off with you, and be lost beyond recovery.

By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered.

At day's first light have in readiness, against disinclination to leave your bed, the thought that 'I am rising for the work of man.'

Be not careless in deeds, nor confused in words, nor rambling in thought.

Is your cucumber bitter Throw it away. Are there briars in your path Turn aside. That is enough. Do not go on and say, 'Why were things of this sort ever brought into this world' neither intolerable nor everlasting if thou bearest in mind that it has its limits, and if thou addest nothing to it in imagination. Pain is either an evil to the body (then let the body say what it thinks of it)or to the soul. But it is in the power of the soul to maintain its own serenity and tranquility....

Let thy chief fort and place of defense be a mind free from passions. A stronger place and better fortified than this, hath no man.

In every pain let this thought be present, that there is no dishonor in it, nor does it make the governing intelligence worse. Indeed, in the case of most pains, let this remark of Epicurus aid thee, that pain is neither intolerable nor everlasting if thou bearest in mind that it has its limits, and if thou addest nothing to it in imagination. Pain is either an evil to the body (then let the body say what it thinks of it)or to the soul. But it is in the power of the soul to maintain its own serenity and tranquility, and not to think that pain is an evil.... It will suffice thee to remember as concerning pain ... that the mind may, by stopping all manner of commerce and sympathy with the body, still retain its own tranquility.

Such as are thy habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of thy soul - for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.