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The Best Marcus Aurelius Quotes
Apr
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who lived during the second century CE. He was a Stoic philosopher and his Meditations is a unique reading into how an ancient person can live a Stoic life. He believed that only virtue is good and only vice is bad and that what we are normally busy with is indifferent to our happiness.
We have created an epic collection of the best Marcus Aurelius quotes for you, in text, video and image format. For more make sure to follow us at Instagram.com/stoic.bydesign
Aurelius was born in 121 CE and received an extensive education in rhetoric and philosophy. He succeeded to his adoptive father as Emperor of Rome in 161 CE and reigned until his death in 180. His reign was troubled by attacks, rebellions and an outburst of the plague. Much of his Meditations was written during the last years of his military campaigns.
His main influence was Stoicism. In his Meditations, he records his gratitude to a few Stoic teachers including Epictetus and other Stoic philosophers such as Aristo of Chios. We also learn of Aurelius’ political heroes including Republican opponents of kingship.
His Meditations are a very unique text that reads differently from other ancient Greek and Roman philosophical texts. Scholars now agree that he wrote for his own moral improvement. Indeed, he wanted to remind himself of and render concrete the Stoic doctrines that he wanted to live by, including doctrines such as that the world is governed by Providence; that happiness lies in virtue which is in one’s own power; and that one should not be angry at one’s associates but see them as siblings instead.
Marcus believed that to live well, one must do what his human nature seeks. The goal is to act in accordance with nature, and to be in a cognitive state in relation to one’s acts according to nature. This means that one must modify one’s beliefs about good and bad as these inform one’s impulses and actions. If we believe that pleasure is good and pain is evil, then we will be resentful of the pleasures enjoyed by the vicious and the pains suffered by the virtuous. Being resentful will make us find fault with Nature and will be impious. Indeed, pain and pleasure are neither good nor evil but they are indifferent to happiness.
More stoic quotes from Marcus Aurelius to reflect on
To love only what happens, what was destined. No greater harmony. – Marcus Aurelius
Life is neither good or evil, but only a place for good and evil.” ― 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
It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own. – Marcus Aurelius
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” ― Marcus Aurelius
If you didn’t learn these things in order to demonstrate them in practice, what did you learn them for? ― Marcus Aurelius
Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life. ― Marcus Aurelius
Only attend to yourself, and resolve to be a good man in every act that you do. ― Marcus Aurelius
While you live, while it is in your power, be good. ― Marcus Aurelius
“You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.” – 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
“Every living organism is fulfilled when it follows the right path for its own nature.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“Live out your life in truth and justice, tolerant of those who are neither true nor just.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“Misfortune nobly born is good fortune.”― Marcus Aurelius
“All things fade and quickly turn to myth.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“A man must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.”― Marcus Aurelius
“You’re better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve.” – Marcus Aurelius
“Though you break your heart, men will go on as before.” ― Marcus Aurelius
No man can escape his destiny, the next inquiry being how he may best live the time that he has to live. ― Marcus Aurelius
Remember that very little is needed to make a happy life. ― Marcus Aurelius
“Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future too.”
― Marcus AureliusNowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul. ― 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
A man’s worth is no greater than his ambitions. ― Marcus Aurelius
“What we do now echoes in eternity.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” ― Marcus Aurelius
The memory of everything is very soon overwhelmed in time. ― Marcus Aurelius
Tomorrow is nothing, today is too late; the good lived yesterday. – Marcus Aurelius
“The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.” ― Marcus Aurelius
Everything that happens happens as it should, and if you observe carefully, you will find this to be so. ― Marcus Aurelius
“Confine yourself to the present” ― Marcus Aurelius
It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. – Marcus Aurelius
How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it. – Marcus Aurelius
Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature‘s delight. – Marcus Aurelius
Do not act as if you had ten thousand years to throw away. Death stands at your elbow. Be good for something while you live and it is in your power. ― Marcus Aurelius
Time is a river, a violent current of events, glimpsed once and already carried past us, and another follows and is done. – Marcus Aurelius
Pleasures, when they go beyond a certain limit, are but punishments. ― Marcus Aurelius
“A person’s worth is measured by the worth of what he values.” ― Marcus Aurelius
To live the good life: We have the potential for it. If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference. ― Marcus Aurelius
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. ― Marcus Aurelius
“It’s silly to try to escape other people’s faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own.” – Marcus Aurelius
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
“You must become an old man in good time if you wish to be an old man long.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“Let men see, let them know, a real man, who lives as he was meant to live.” ― Marcus Aurelius
“Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.”
― Marcus Aurelius
