THE SAYINGS OF MARCUS
(1) Capit. iv. 7.
After this[1] he gave up to his sister[2] all that he had inherited from his father, though his mother invited him to share it equally, and replied that he was content with being his grandfather's heir, adding that his mother too, if she were willing, should bestow her property upon his sister, that his sister might be on an equality with her husband.[3]
(2) Capit. v. 3, 4.
When however he learnt that he had been adopted by Hadrian, he was more abashed than pleased, and when bidden to migrate to Hadrian's private house, he left his mother's mansion[4] with regret. And when the household asked him why he took his adoption into the royal house so sadly, he enlarged upon the evils inseparable from sovran power.
(3) Capit. xxvii. 7.
The sentence of Plato[5] was for ever on his lips: Well was it for states, if either philosophers were rulers or rulers philosophers.[6]
(4) Dio 71. 34, § 4 = Suidas sub voce Mápкos.
If anyone did anything excellent, he praised him and utilized him for that,[7] but did not expect other things from him, saying, It is impossible to make men exactly as
- ↑ About 136 A.D., when Marcus was 15.
- ↑ His only sister Cornificia.
- ↑ Ummidius Quadratus.
- ↑ These "Gardens," that is, Lucilla's private residence in its own private grounds, were probably on the Caelian hill.
- ↑ Plato, Rep. 473 D, quoted also by Cicero in his letter to his brother Quintus, de provincia administranda.
- ↑ Aur. Victor (De Caes. xv. 3) applies the saying to Pius. Justin was well advised therefore in his Apology (i. 3), addressed to Pius and Marcus, in quoting the similar aphorism: ἔφη που καί τις τῶν παλαίων· ἂν μὴ οἱ ἄρχοντες φιλοσοφήσωσι καὶ οἱ ἀρχόμενοι, οὐκ ἂν εἴη τὰς πόλεις εὐδαιμονῆσαι.
- ↑ A lesson learnt from Pius; see above, i. 16, § 6.
