Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Quotes on Nature (6 Quotes)

Think often of how swiftly all things pass away and are no more the works of Nature and the works of man. The substance of the Universe, matter, is like unto a river that flows on forever. All things are not only in a constant state of change, but they are the cause of constant and infinite change in other things. Upon a narrow ledge thou standouts Behind thee, the bottomless abyss of the Past In front of thee, the Future that will swallow up all things that are now. Over what things, then, in this present life wilt thou, O foolish man, be disquieted or exalted making thyself wretched seeing that they can vex thee only for a time a brief, brief time.

Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of manyesterday in embryo, tomorrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hairsbreadth of time assigned to thee, live rationally, and part with life cheerfully, as drops the ripe olive, extolling the season that bore it and the tree that matured it.

As a horse when he has run, a dog when he has caught the game, a bee when it has made the honey, so a man when he has done a good act does not call out for others to come and see, but he goes on to another act, as a vine goes on to produce again the grapes in season. Must a man then be one of these, who in a manner acts thus without observing it Yes. What more dost thou want when thou hast done a man a service Art thou not content that thou hast done something conformable to thy nature, and dost thou seek to be paid for it, just as if the eye demanded a recompense for seeing, or the feet should demand a recompense for walking.

No form of Nature is inferior to Art for the arts merely imitate natural forms.

Spend your brief moment according to natures law, and serenely greet the journeys end as an olive falls when it is ripe, blessing the branch that bare it, and giving thanks to the tree that gave it life.

When we consider we are bound to be serviceable to mankind, and bear with their faults, we shall perceive there is a common tie of nature and relation between us.