Meditations, Book 1, Section 12

Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

In my father, I saw his gentle nature and his steady resolve. Once he had thought something through carefully, he stuck with it. He never showed off about his honors or titles. He worked hard and was always ready to listen to anyone who had something to say for the common good. He treated everyone fairly and knew when to be strict and when to show mercy. He stayed away from inappropriate relationships with young men. He was considerate of others' needs like any ordinary person. He never demanded that his friends join him for every meal or trip. And whenever he had to put off some business, when he returned to it later, he was the same steady person he had always been.

Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

In my father, I observed his meekness; his constancy without wavering in those things, which after a due examination and deliberation, he had determined. How free from all vanity he carried himself in matter of honour and dignity, (as they are esteemed:) his laboriousness and assiduity, his readiness to hear any man, that had aught to say tending to any common good: how generally and impartially he would give every man his due; his skill and knowledge, when rigour or extremity, or when remissness or moderation was in season; how he did abstain from all unchaste love of youths; his moderate condescending to other men's occasions as an ordinary man, neither absolutely requiring of his friends, that they should wait upon him at his ordinary meals, nor that they should of necessity accompany him in his journeys; and that whensoever any business upon some necessary occasions was to be put off and omitted before it could be ended, he was ever found when he went about it again, the same man that he was before.

Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

From Claudius Maximus I learned to stay in control of myself in all things. Never let outside forces push me around. Be cheerful and brave when sudden troubles hit — sickness, accidents, whatever comes. Love gentleness, balance, and dignity. Do my work thoroughly without complaining. When he spoke, everyone believed he meant exactly what he said. When he acted, everyone knew he had good intentions. He never seemed amazed by anything. Never rushed, but never slow either. Never confused or discouraged. Never acted inappropriately or laughed too much. Never got angry or suspicious. Always ready to help others and forgive them. Always spoke the truth. He seemed naturally upright, not like someone who had to work hard to become good. No one ever felt looked down on by him. No one could honestly think they were better than he was. And through it all, he was pleasant and kind.

Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

From Claudius Maximus, in all things to endeavour to have power of myself, and in nothing to be carried about; to be cheerful and courageous in all sudden chances and accidents, as in sicknesses: to love mildness, and moderation, and gravity: and to do my business, whatsoever it be, thoroughly, and without querulousness. Whatsoever he said, all men believed him that as he spake, so he thought, and whatsoever he did, that he did it with a good intent. His manner was, never to wonder at anything; never to be in haste, and yet never slow: nor to be perplexed, or dejected, or at any time unseemly, or excessively to laugh: nor to be angry, or suspicious, but ever ready to do good, and to forgive, and to speak truth; and all this, as one that seemed rather of himself to have been straight and right, than ever to have been rectified or redressed; neither was there any man that ever thought himself undervalued by him, or that could find in his heart, to think himself a better man than he. He would also be very pleasant and gracious.