Political Quotes

Marcus Aurelius: “Many grains of frankincense on the same altar: one falls before, another falls after; but it makes no difference.”

On the recordJanuary 1, 175
Many grains of frankincense on the same altar: one falls before, another falls after; but it makes no difference.
Said by
Marcus Aurelius

Editor's note · Context

In his private thoughts, this passage uses the metaphor of frankincense grains to illustrate the ultimate irrelevance of individual timing in the cosmic order.

Share

More from Marcus Aurelius

Jan 1, 175

The safety of life is this, to examine everything all through, what it is itself, that is its material, what the formal part; with all thy soul to do justice and to say the truth.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 175

But if it is easy to set little value on all these things, turn to that which remains, which is to follow reason and God.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 175

And how small a part of the whole substance; and how small a part of the universal soul; and on what a small clod of the whole earth thou creepest!

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 175

Reflecting on all this, consider nothing to be great, except to act as thy nature leads thee, and to endure that which the common nature brings.

gutenberg.org

Other voices in this conversation