Whisper About It

There was a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish, it was so fragile.

A quote from the film Gladiator. Marcus Aurelius probably didn't say that. He also didn't say this but it's a kind of summary of some of his thoughts:

Epictetus, the Roman slave, and Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor, taught a similar gospel: “When you arise in the morning think on what a precious privilege it is to live – to breathe – to think – to enjoy – to love! God’s spirit is close to us when we love. Therefore it is better not to resent, not to hate, not to fear. Equanimity and moderation are the secrets of power and peace.”

E. Hubbard, 'The Fra : a Journal of Affirmation, vol. 12 no. 6', 1914, p171