Marcus Aurelius People Quotations

To understand the true quality of people, you must look into their minds, and examine their pursuits and aversions.

Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people's actions, and see what they would be at, as often as it is practicable; and to make this custom the more significant, practice it first upon yourself.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.

Leave other people's mistakes where they lie.

It's silly to try to escape other people's faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.

People who labor all their lives but have no purpose to direct every thought and impulse toward are wasting their time-even when hard at work.

The true joy of humankind is in doing that which is most proper to our nature; and the first property of people is to be kindly affected towards them that are of one kind with ourselves.

It is the responsibility of leadership to work intelligently with what is given, and not waste time fantasizing about a world of flawless people and perfect choices.

Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their mind.

Life is short. Do not forget about the most important things in our life, living for other people and doing good for them.

If it's in your control, why do you do it? If it's in someone else's control, then who are you blaming? Atoms? The gods? Stupid either way. Blame no one. Set people straight, if you can. If not, just repair the damage.

People exist for one another.

People find pressure in different ways. I find it in keeping my mind clear. In not turning away from people or the things that happen to them. In accepting and welcoming everything I see. In treating each thing as it deserves.

People generally despise where they flatter, and cringe to those they would gladly overtop; so that truth and ceremony are two things.

Men are born for each other's sake, so either teach people or endure them

Because other people are fools, must you be so too?

Do what you will. Even if you tear yourself apart, most people will continue doing the same things.

When another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, penetrate inside and see what sort of people they are. You will realize that there is no need to be racked with anxiety that they should hold any particular opinion about you.

Adapt yourself to the life you have been given; and truly love the people with whom destiny has surrounded you.

I'm going to be meeting with people today who talk too much - people who are selfish, egotistical, ungrateful. But I won't be surprised or disturbed, for I can't imagine a world without such people.

It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinions than our own.