---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But as for me, Emperor, nature has not…"
description: "\"But as for me, Emperor, nature has not given me stature, age has marred my face, and my strength is impaired by ill health. Therefore, since these adva..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-giv_2752140.png"
---

#  But as for me, Emperor, nature has not given me stature…

![“But as for me, Emperor, nature has not given me stature, age has marred my face, and my strength is impaired by ill health. Therefore, since these advantages fail me, I shall win your approval, as I hope, by the help of my knowledge and my writings.” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-giv_2752140.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-giv_2752140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-giv_2752140.png)

> “But as for me, Emperor, nature has not given me stature, age has marred my face, and my strength is impaired by ill health. Therefore, since these advantages fail me, I shall win your approval, as I hope, by the help of my knowledge and my writings.”

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He acknowledges physical limitations but seeks respect through intellect and written work.

**In simple terms:** He values knowledge over physical strength.

Key Takeaway

Leverage expertise when physical abilities wane.

Themes

humility knowledge legacy

Mood

reflective determined

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- architectural design
- academic writing
- public speaking
- leadership

Key Concepts

Stoicism self‑efficacy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can one balance physical decline with intellectual pursuits?
- What role does written work play in lasting impact?

A Different Perspective

Physical decline can limit influence despite intellectual contributions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emperor/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Ill health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill-health/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Stature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stature/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“This was how Dinocrates, recommended only by his good looks and dignified carriage, came to be so famous. But as for me, Emperor, nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitruvius-pollio/this-was-how-dinocrates-recommended-only-by-his-good-looks-and/)

Vitruvius Pollio

> [If the public has given us stature, we must also be answerable to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koena-mitra/if-the-public-has-given-us-stature-we-must-also-be-answerable-to-them/)

[Koena Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koena-mitra/)

> [“Patterns of interaction are transmitted, more or less faithfully, from one generation to another. Thus the inheritance of mental health and of mental ill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duffy-robbins/patterns-of-interaction-are-transmitted-more-or-less-faithfully-from/)

[Duffy Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duffy-robbins/)

> [“Talk about keeping slaves, as if we did it for our convenience," said Marie. "I'm sure, if we consulted that, we might let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/talk-about-keeping-slaves-as-if-we-did-it-for-our-convenience-said/)

[Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/)

> [“Once we have reached a certain degree of enfeeblement, whether caused by age or by ill health, all pleasure taken at the expense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/once-we-have-reached-a-certain-degree-of-enfeeblement-whether-caused/)

[Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/)

> [“One third of managers are victims of "Information Fatigue Syndrome." 49 percent said they are unable to handle the vast amounts of information received.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-davidson/one-third-of-managers-are-victims-of-information-fatigue-syndrome-49/)

[Jeff Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-davidson/)

> [In the West, we have become addicted to work. Americans now work the longest hours in the world. And the result is not health,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/in-the-west-we-have-become-addicted-to-work-americans-now-work-the/)

[Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/)

> [The Caribbean is the region in the Americas worst affected by the epidemic of NCDs. These diseases are responsible for over two- thirds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freundel-stuart/the-caribbean-is-the-region-in-the-americas-worst-affected-by-the/)

Freundel Stuart

> [“I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old. I am of the nature to have ill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/i-am-of-the-nature-to-grow-old-there-is-no-way-to-escape-growing-old/)

[Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/)

> [“Lying there in silence, Elim thought about how quickly a person’s fate could change, how precious life and health are. He had walked into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-riddle/lying-there-in-silence-elim-thought-about-how-quickly-a-person-s-fate/)

[A.G. Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-riddle/)

> [If we could make up our minds to spare our friends all details of ill health, of money losses, of domestic annoyances, of altercations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/if-we-could-make-up-our-minds-to-spare-our-friends-all-details-of-ill/)

[Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/)

> [Depression is a leading cause of ill health and disability, and many do not have access to mental health services and face significant social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tedros-adhanom/depression-is-a-leading-cause-of-ill-health-and-disability-and-many/)

[Tedros Adhanom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tedros-adhanom/)

> [I suffered most inconvenience from the difficulty of getting news from the civilised world down river, from the irregularity of receipt of letters, parcels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-walter-bates/i-suffered-most-inconvenience-from-the-difficulty-of-getting-news/)

[Henry Walter Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-walter-bates/)

> [When a living system is suffering from ill health, the remedy is found by connecting with more of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-varela/when-a-living-system-is-suffering-from-ill-health-the-remedy-is-found/)

[Francisco Varela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-varela/)

> [“When we step out of our Perfect You, we will be in conflict and this will make us frustrated and unhappy, and even temporarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-step-out-of-our-perfect-you-we-will-be-in-conflict-and-this/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

> [ Leave a cavity behind the \[wall\] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-and-on-the-inside-build-walls/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [Bricks should be made in Spring or Autumn so that they may dry uniformly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/bricks-should-be-made-in-spring-or-autumn-so-that-they-may-dry/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [It is no secret that the moon has no light of her own, but is, as it were, a mirror, receiving brightness from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/it-is-no-secret-that-the-moon-has-no-light-of-her-own-but-is-as-it/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [Burn shavings and splinters of pitch pine, and when they turn to charcoal, put them out, and pound them into mortar with size. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/burn-shavings-and-splinters-of-pitch-pine-and-when-they-turn-to/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [With the ripening of the fruits in Autumn the leaves begin to wither and the trees, taking up their sap from the earth through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/with-the-ripening-of-the-fruits-in-autumn-the-leaves-begin-to-wither/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [Astronomers have a common ground for discussion with musicians in the harmony of the stars and musical concords in tetrads and triads of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/astronomers-have-a-common-ground-for-discussion-with-musicians-in-the/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [The difference between "machines" and "engines" is obviously this, that machines need more workmen and greater power to make them take effect, as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/the-difference-between-machines-and-engines-is-obviously-this-that/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [ The \[engineer\] should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/the-engineer-should-be-equipped-with-knowledge-of-many-branches-of/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [ All these soft kinds \[of stone\] have the advantage that they can be easily worked as soon as they have been taken from the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/all-these-soft-kinds-of-stone-have-the-advantage-that-they-can-be/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [Apollo at Delphi, through the oracular utterance of his priestess, pronounced Socrates the wisest of men. Of him it is related that he said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/apollo-at-delphi-through-the-oracular-utterance-of-his-priestess/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [Music, also, the architect ought to understand so that he may have knowledge of the canonical and mathematical theory, and besides be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/music-also-the-architect-ought-to-understand-so-that-he-may-have/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [Architecture depends on Order, Arrangement, Eurythmy, Symmetry , Propriety , and Economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/architecture-depends-on-order-arrangement-eurythmy-symmetry-propriety/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [In all matters but particularly in architecture, that which is signified is the subject of which we may be speaking and that which gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/in-all-matters-but-particularly-in-architecture-that-which-is/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [In felling a tree we should cut into the trunk of it to the very heart, and then leave it standing so that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/in-felling-a-tree-we-should-cut-into-the-trunk-of-it-to-the-very/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

> [In fact, all kinds of men, and not merely architects, can recognize a good piece of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/in-fact-all-kinds-of-men-and-not-merely-architects-can-recognize-a/)

[Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

[Explore all 90 Marcus Vitruvius Pollio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/)

## More Advantage quotes

> [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/)

[Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/)

> [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/)

[Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/)

> [All I ever wanted was an unfair advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/all-i-ever-wanted-was-an-unfair-advantage/)

[Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/)

> [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/)

[Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/)

> [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/)

[Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/)

> [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/)

[Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/)

> [For some reason when I decide to pursue something, I never have any fear that it won't happen. I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/)

[Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/)

> [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/)

[Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/)

> [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/)

[Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/)

> [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/)

[Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/)

> [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/)

[G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/)

> [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/)

[Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/)

> [I always tell women that the fact that you're different and that you're noticed, because there are few of us in the tech industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-that-the-fact-that-you-re-different-and-that-you/)

[Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/)

[Browse all 3,503 Advantage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "But as for me, Emperor, nature has not given me stature, age has marred my face, and my strength is impaired by ill health. Therefore, since these advantages fail me, I shall win your approval, as I hope, by the help of my knowledge and my writings.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marcus Vitruvius Pollio"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-given-me-stature-age-has-marred/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advantage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-given-me-stature-age-has-marred/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-giv_2752140.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-giv_2752140.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-giv_2752140.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“But as for me, Emperor, nature has not given me stature, age has marred my face, and my strength is impaired…” — Marcus Vitruvius Pollio",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Marcus Vitruvius Pollio",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "But as for me, Emperor, nature...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-given-me-stature-age-has-marred/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-vitruvius-pollio/but-as-for-me-emperor-nature-has-not-given-me-stature-age-has-marred/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
