Marcus Aurelius Quotes: A stoic philosopher, a compassionate emperor, and the last king of the Pax Roman, Marcus Aurelius’s life story is nothing less than an enigmatic and inspiring story. Considered by many as one of the most peaceful Roman emperors, After the death of Antoninus, Marcus’s uncle, he ascended to the throne along with his adoptive brother and represented the Roman empire. Under his rule, the Roman empire witnessed a heavy military conflict and also the death of 5 to 10 million Roman people due to the outbreak of the plague in between 165 and 166. He has been the subject of study by numerous modern philosophers because of his magnificent and unrivaled stoic philosophy. Even after many centuries, his thoughts are still practiced by countless Roman scholars, western philosophers, politicians, and monarchs. He also wrote a book named ‘Meditations’ for his own self-growth and development which is considered by many as the finest work of philosophy. To reveal the philosophical genius of Marcus Aurelius, we have rounded up the finest Marcus Aurelius mediation quotes, Marcus Aurelius quotes on leadership, and discipline that depicts the greatness of this late Roman emperor.
Marcus Aurelius Meditations Quotes
You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly. What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Accept whatever comes to you woven in the pattern of your destiny, for what could more aptly fit your needs? » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
You are a little soul carrying about a corpse, as Epictetus used to say. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can’t control. These things are not asking to be judged by you. Leave them alone. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Regain your senses, call yourself back, and once again wake up. Now that you realize that only dreams were troubling you, view this ‘reality’ as you view your dreams. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
What we do now echoes in eternity. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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Whoever does wrong, wrongs himself; whoever does injustice, does it to himself, making himself evil. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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, Meditations
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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, Meditations
Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
If you are pained by external things, it is not they that disturb you, but your own judgement of them. And it is in your power to wipe out that judgement now. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love … » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretence. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Observe always that everything is the result of change, and get used to thinking that there is nothing Nature loves so well as to change existing forms and make new ones like them. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future too. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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The happiness of those who want to be popular depends on others; the happiness of those who seek pleasure fluctuates with moods outside their control; but the happiness of the wise grows out of their own free acts. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
For it is in your power to retire into yourself whenever you choose. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The memory of everything is very soon overwhelmed in time. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Confine yourself to the present. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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, Meditations
Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations,
Our life is what our thoughts make it. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Pass then through this little space of time conformably to nature, and end thy journey in content, just as an olive falls off when it is ripe, blessing nature who produced it, and thanking the tree on which it grew. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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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, Meditations
Receive without conceit, release without struggle. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Misfortune nobly born is good fortune. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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Don’t go on discussing what a good person should be. Just be one. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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, Meditations
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
It is in your power to withdraw yourself whenever you desire. Perfect tranquility within consists in the good ordering of the mind, the realm of your own. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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Dig within. Within is the wellspring of Good; and it is always ready to bubble up, if you just dig. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only concern is not doing or saying anything deserving of contempt. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Take full account of what Excellencies you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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The best revenge is not to be like your enemy. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Whatever anyone does or says, I must be emerald and keep my colour. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
A man must stand erect, not be kept erect by others. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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A person’s worth is measured by the worth of what he values. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Every living organism is fulfilled when it follows the right path for its own nature. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Though you break your heart, men will go on as before. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
That which is really beautiful has no need of anything; not more than law, not more than truth, not more than benevolence or modesty. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
“The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Humans have come into being for the sake of each other, so either teach them, or learn to bear them. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
I was once a fortunate man but at some point fortune abandoned me. But true good fortune is what you make for yourself. Good fortune: good character, good intentions, and good actions. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Do what you will. Even if you tear yourself apart, most people will continue doing the same things. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
When you arise in the moring, think of what a precious privelege it is to be alive– to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: not “This is misfortune,” but “To bear this worthily is good fortune. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
If someone can prove me wrong and show me my mistake in any thought or action, I shall gladly change. I seek the truth, which never harmed anyone: the harm is to persist in one’s own self-deception and ignorance. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
What we cannot bear removes us from life; what remains can be borne. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
All men are made one for another: either then teach them better or bear with them. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbour says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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, Meditations
No man is happy who does not think himself so. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Begin each day by telling yourself: Today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will, and selfishness – all of them due to the offenders’ ignorance of what is good or evil. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Unhappy am I because this has happened to me.- Not so, but happy am I, though this has happened to me, because I continue free from pain, neither crushed by the present nor fearing the future. » Marcus Aurelius, Meditations