Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, left behind a wealth of wisdom in his writings, primarily in Meditations. Here are 50 of his most profound quotes:
“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.” — Marcus Aurelius
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive—to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” — Marcus Aurelius
“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” — Marcus Aurelius
“To live happily is an inward power of the soul.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs?” — Marcus Aurelius
“You are what you repeatedly do.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Look well into yourself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if you will always look.” — Marcus Aurelius
“What stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Death smiles at us all; all a man can do is smile back.” — Marcus Aurelius
“A man’s worth is no greater than his ambitions.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Live out your life in truth and justice, tolerant of those who are neither true nor just.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Confine yourself to the present.” — Marcus Aurelius
“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, which never harmed anyone.” — Marcus Aurelius
“He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Each day provides its own gifts.” — Marcus Aurelius
“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretense.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible.” — Marcus Aurelius
“A person’s worth is measured by the worth of what they value.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Receive without pride, let go without attachment.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” — Marcus Aurelius
“A man’s true delight is to do the things he was made for.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Do not be ashamed of help.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature’s delight.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life.” — Marcus Aurelius
“It is not events that disturb people, it is their judgments concerning them.” — Marcus Aurelius
“How ridiculous and how strange to be surprised at anything which happens in life.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Be like the rock that the waves keep crashing over. It stands unmoved, and the raging of the sea still falls around it.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun.” — Marcus Aurelius
“To love only what happens, what was destined. No greater harmony.” — Marcus Aurelius
“It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Consider that before long you will be nobody and nowhere.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Whatever time you choose is the right time. Not late, not early.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Dig within. Within is the wellspring of good; and it is always ready to bubble up, if you just dig.” — Marcus Aurelius
“Nothing natural is evil.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The best answer to anger is silence.” — Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius’ words continue to inspire generations, offering guidance on resilience, self-mastery, and wisdom. His Stoic philosophy teaches us to focus on what we can control and to accept life’s challenges with grace.
