John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919. Page 939
Marcus Aurelius. (121–180) 9036 Mark how fleeting and paltry is the estate of man,—yesterday in embryo, to-morrow a mummy or ashes. So for the hair’s-breadth 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. Meditations. iv. 48. 9037 Deem not life a thing of consequence. For look at the yawning void of the future, and at that other limitless space, the past. Meditations. iv. 50. 9038 Always take the short cut; and that is the rational one. Therefore say and do everything according to soundest reason. Meditations. iv. 51. 9039 In the morning, when thou art sluggish at rousing thee, let this thought be present; “I am rising to a man’s work.” Meditations. v. 1. 9040 A man makes no noise over a good deed, but passes on to another as a vine to bear grapes again in season. Meditations. v. 6. 9041 Flinch not, neither give up nor despair, if the achieving of every act in accordance with right principle is not always continuous with thee. Meditations. v. 9. 9042 Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear. Meditations. v. 18. 9043 Prize that which is best in the universe; and this is that which useth everything and ordereth everything. Meditations. v. 21. 9044 Live with the gods. Meditations. v. 27. 9045 Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee. Meditations. vi. 3. 9046 The controlling Intelligence understands its own nature, and what it does, and whereon it works. Meditations. vi. 5. 9047 Do not think that what is hard for thee to master is impossible for man; but if a thing is possible and proper to man, deem it attainable by thee. Meditations. vi. 19.
