Marcus Aurelius

(121 - 180)

Marcus Aurelius became emperor of Rome at the age of thirty-nine in 161 and insisted that his adoptive brother, Lucius Verus, be made co-emperor, the first time in the empire’s history that its rule was shared. It is believed that he composed his Meditations, originally written in Greek, during the last years of his life, most of which were spent leading a protracted campaign against Germanic tribes. Marcus observed, “We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”