Marcus Aurelius quotes

Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) was a Roman Emperor and philosopher, known for his wisdom and stoic philosophy. Despite his power, he practiced humility, valued virtue, and upheld justice. His renowned work "Meditations" offers profound insights into personal reflection and the pursuit of happiness amidst adversity. Aurelius was a scholar, dedicating his life to personal growth and self-improvement, constantly reminding himself of life's transient nature. A beloved emperor, he prioritized the well-being of his people and promoted tolerance and religious freedom. Today, his teachings continue to inspire and guide individuals seeking inner tranquility and moral integrity.

Things themselves cannot touch the soul, not in the least degree, nor have they admission to the soul nor can they turn or move the soul: it turns and moves itself alone and whatever judgment it may think proper to make, such it makes by remaking for itself the things that present themselves to it.

- Marcus Aurelius

Your life is an expression of all your thoughts.

- Marcus Aurelius

You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

- Marcus Aurelius

It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.

- Marcus Aurelius

If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgment of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgment now.

- Marcus Aurelius

A man must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.

- Marcus Aurelius

Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the human spirit is colored by such impressions.

- Marcus Aurelius

You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you.

- Marcus Aurelius

Why should we feel anger at the world? As if the world would notice?

- Marcus Aurelius

Why are we still lazy, indifferent and dull? Why do we look for excuses to avoid training and exercising our powers of reason?

- Marcus Aurelius

Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?

- Marcus Aurelius

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

- Marcus Aurelius

When they’re really possessed by what they do, they’d rather stop eating and sleeping than give up practicing their arts.

- Marcus Aurelius

Today I escaped from the crush of circumstances, or better put, I threw them out, for the crush wasn’t from outside me but in my own assumptions.

- Marcus Aurelius

Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions – not outside.

- Marcus Aurelius

To have contemplated human life for forty years is the same as to have contemplated it for ten thousand years. For what more will you see?

- Marcus Aurelius

The true man is revealed in difficult times. So when trouble comes, think of yourself as a wrestler whom God, like a trainer, has paired with a tough young buck. For what purpose? To turn you into Olympic-class material. But this is going to take some sweat to accomplish.

- Marcus Aurelius

The mind in itself has no needs, except for those it creates itself. Is undisturbed, except for its own disturbances. Knows no obstructions, except those from within.

- Marcus Aurelius

The man who spends his time choosing one resort after another in a hunt for peace and quiet, will in every place he visits find something to prevent him from relaxing.

- Marcus Aurelius

The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.

- Marcus Aurelius

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.

- Marcus Aurelius

Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.

- Marcus Aurelius

The first thing a pretender to philosophy must do is get rid of their presuppositions; a person is not going to undertake to learn anything that they think they already know.

- Marcus Aurelius

The best answer to anger is silence.

- Marcus Aurelius

The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing, in so far as it stands ready against the accidental and the unforeseen, and is not apt to fall.

- Marcus Aurelius

Stop wishing for something else to happen, for a different fate. That is to live a false life.

- Marcus Aurelius

So you were born to feel nice? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?

- Marcus Aurelius

Refer your action to no other end than the common good.

- Marcus Aurelius

Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their minds.

- Marcus Aurelius

Nothing happens to anyone that he can’t endure.

- Marcus Aurelius