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Life
Emperor of Rome. Philosopher on the battlefield. His private journal became the most famous Stoic text in history.
He lost everything in a shipwreck and found philosophy. Then he built Stoicism.
Connection
Zeno of Citium founder of tradition Marcus Aurelius — Marcus Aurelius studied Stoicism from youth and tried to live by its precepts while ruling an empire.
Ideas
Words
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”
“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.”
Key Moments
121 CE
Born in Rome
161 CE
Becomes Emperor
c. 170 CE
Writing the Meditations
180 CE
Death at the Frontier
c. 334 BCE
Born in Citium
c. 312 BCE
Shipwreck and Discovery
c. 300 BCE
Teaching at the Painted Porch
c. 300 BCE
Virtue as the Only Good
Works
Meditations
Fragments & Doctrines
Republic