Marcus Aurelius Quotes

Marcus Aurelius, a renowned Roman Emperor, and philosopher, left behind a treasure trove of profound wisdom through his writings and teachings.

Born in 121 AD, Aurelius reigned as Emperor from 161 to 180 AD and is best known for his philosophical work, “Meditations.” In this collection of personal reflections, he talks about the nature of life, virtue, and human existence, offering timeless insights that continue to resonate today.

Aurelius’ quotes encapsulate the essence of Stoic philosophy, emphasizing the power of the mind, the importance of self-reflection, and the pursuit of inner harmony.

Let us explore best 49 of his most thought-provoking quotes, which serve as a guiding light for navigating the complexities of life and attaining true wisdom and tranquility.

Here are the Best 49 powerful quotes from Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and philosopher:

1. “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength.”
2. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
3. “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
4. “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
5. “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
6. “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”
7. “The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”
8. “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
9. “Choose not to be harmed, and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed, and you haven’t been.”
10. “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.”
11. “He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.”
12. “How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks.”
13. “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.”
14. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
15. “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
16. “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.”
17. “The universe is change; life is an opinion.”
18. “The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.”
19. “Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.”
20. “What stands in the way becomes the way.”
21. “Confine yourself to the present.”
22. “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.”
23. “Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break, but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.”
24. “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
25. “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.”
26. “The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.”
27. “How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks.”
28. “Death smiles at us all; all we can do is smile back.”
29. “How ridiculous and how strange to be surprised at anything which happens in life.”
30. “Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears.”
31. “Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.”
32. “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
33. “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”
34. “The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.”
35. “If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”
36. “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
37. “The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.”
38. “It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”
39. “The more we value things outside our control, the less control we have.”
40. “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”
41. “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”
42. “The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.”
43. “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
44. “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
45. “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
46. “How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.”
47. “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”
48. “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.”
49. “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, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.”

These quotes reflect the wisdom and philosophical insights of Marcus Aurelius.