Quotes by Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor (121 CE – 180 CE). I know him mainly as a Stoic philosopher. His quotes inspire me.

Let's learn about his personal circumstances before diving into his philosophies.

He belonged to a respected family. Roman Emperor Hadrian adopted Aurelius into the imperial succession.

Despite being an emperor, he followed Stoicism, a philosophy that teaches to control one's own mind, and to accept what we cannot change.

He suffered many tragedies in life.

He lost several children.

He ruled during a deadly plague that killed millions. He faced wars, invasions, civil unrests, and betrayal.

He battled a number of chronic health issues.

But, instead of resigning to fate or turning bitter, he transformed the sufferings into wisdom. During military campaigns, he wrote personal notes which were later compiled as 'Meditations'.

He was about 58 years old when he died. His sun Commodus succeeded him.

Marcus Aurelius was last of the Five Good Emperors, a succession of Roman rulers.

Today, 1,846 years since his passing, his teachings encourage us to embrace humility, peace, forgiveness, and transience.

Let’s see some of his meaningful quotes:

“Accept the things to which fate binds you.”

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

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

“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”

“Loss is nothing else but change.”

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive.”

“Waste no more time arguing what a good person should be. Be one.”

“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”

“It is not death that a man should fear but never beginning to live.”

“Time is a sort of river.”

“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself.”

“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them.”

“The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting.”

“If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it.”

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

“The only wealth you keep forever is the wealth you give away.”

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”

“Confine yourself to the present.”

“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”

“Look well into yourself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if you look.”

“The things you think about determine the quality of your mind.”

“Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not; count the blessings you do possess.”

“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.”

“Life is neither good nor evil, but only a place for good and evil.”

Whether every quote is exactly his or not, his philosophies move me. The quotes are powerful, and inspiring.

Together with Seneca and Epictetus, today, Marcus Aurelius's stoic philosophies inspire many. If you pay attention, his quotes hold answers to most of our current problems.

I hope that you benefitted from this story. I encourage you to embrace his life philosophies. Stoicism has been helpful to me, and it will be to many.