Name: Marcus Aurelius
Lived: 121–180 AD, Roman Empire
Known for: Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher
Famous for: Author of Meditations, a journal of personal reflections on virtue, duty, and reason
Note: The quote “The best revenge is not to be like your enemy” is a modern rendering of a passage from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Book 6, Section 6).
Original idea: “The best way to avenge yourself is not to become like the wrongdoer.” It reminds us that true strength lies in staying virtuous, not becoming like someone who wronged us.