Best Marcus Aurelius Quotes to Live a Fulfilling Life

Marcus Aurelius is by far, one of the most renowned Stoic philosophers of all time. He ruled the Roman Empire from 161 AD to 180 AD, building a culture out of passionate leadership and vision.

At a very young age, he had developed an interest in Stoic Philosophy. Moreover, he had a deep admiration for Epictetus, due to his simplicity and humbleness.

As you delve into Marcus Aurelius quotes, get ready to take it as an opponent to grow and learn from his life. His massive learnings are hidden in these words. Hence, it’s time to start acting, rather than just reading:

1. “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
2. “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
3. “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.”
4. “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.”
5. “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.”
6. “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.”
7. “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.”
8. “Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.”
9. “Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.”
10. “Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.”
11. “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.”
12. “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”
13. “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
14. “Think of the life you have lived until now as over and, as a dead man, see what’s left as a bonus and live it according to Nature. Love the hand that fate deals you and play it as your own, for what could be more fitting?”
15. “Let men see, let them know, a real man, who lives as he was meant to live.”
16. “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.”
17. “It is the responsibility of leadership to work intelligently with what is given, and not waste time fantasizing about a world of flawless people and perfect choices.”
18. “Remember that very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
19. “The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”
20. “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”
21. “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
22. “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.”
23. “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.”
24. “Do every act of your life as if it were your last.”
25. “How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.”

Marcus Aurelius quotes on Life:

The ancient philosophy movement, Stoicism, emerged in the Hellenistic period and believed that philosophy is the way to live a virtuous life. Being a staunch supporter of Stoicism, Marcus Aurelius has often taught the way to live happily. He believed that happiness is a mindset. When you change your mindset, your emotions automatically change and your purpose becomes clear.

1. “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.”
2. “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.”
3. “If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”
4. “How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.”
5. “It isn’t manly to be enraged. Rather, gentleness and civility are more human, and therefore manlier. The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.”
6. “You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
7. “The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”
8. “A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.”
9. “Time is like a river made up of the events which happen, and a violent stream; for as soon as a thing has been seen, it is carried away, and another comes in its place, and this will be carried away too.”
10. “Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.”

Marcus Aurelius quotes on Love:

Marcus Aurelius has focused on the importance of finding ways to live a happy life and be be contented with what one has.

1. “Choose not to be harmed, and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed, and you haven’t been.”
2. “To love only what happens, what was destined. No greater harmony.”
3. “I am made up of the same elements as my fellow man, and I should recognize that what I love is part of me, and in this way, I should love others as parts of myself.”
4. “Love the truth, and the truth will lead you to love all that is right and just. For in understanding and embracing the truth, we find a deeper connection and harmony with the world and each other.”
5. “Love the little trade which thou hast learned, and be content therewith.”
6. “The bond of our mutual nature makes us love those who are connected to us by our common humanity. So in every interaction, remember that we are all part of the same whole, and treat others with the respect and kindness that you would wish for yourself.”
7. “Adapt yourself to the life you have been given; and truly love the people with whom destiny has surrounded you.”
8. “How easily we love ourselves above all others, yet we put more stock in the opinions of others than in our own estimation of self…”
9. “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
10. “Not to display anger or other emotions. To be free of passion and yet full of love.”

Marcus Aurelius quotes from Meditations:

The legendary book, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius includes his personal notes and thoughts about Stoic Philosophy. Think of Meditations, as a diary, giving access to timeless Marcus Aurelius quotes.

1. “Think of what you have rather than of what you lack. Of the things you have, select the best and then reflect how eagerly you would have sought them if you did not have them.”
2. “The wise man sees in the misfortune of others what he should avoid.”
3. “Remember that man lives only in the present, in this fleeting instant; all the rest of his life is either past and gone, or not yet revealed.
4. “The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing; the main thing is to stand firm and be ready for an unforeseen attack.”
5. “Consider that before long you will be nobody and nowhere, nor will anything which you now behold exist, nor one of those who are now alive.”
6. “Be like the cliff against which the waves continually break; but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.”
7. “Consider that before long you will be nobody and nowhere, nor will anything which you now behold exist, nor one of those who are now alive.”
8. “I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others.”
9. “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.”
10. “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 quotes death:

Marcus Aurelius helps us accept that death id inevitable. Yet how we utilise our time on Earth, is entirely in our hands. Life is precious and living it everyday, instead of waiting for the perfect day to come is important. 

1. “Consider yourself as a guest in the world, and understand that all things pass away. Death is the final act in the play, and like all acts, it will come to an end. The essence of life is not to avoid this end but to live well and fulfill your role before the curtain falls.”
2. “When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surely. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of the good and the ugliness of the wicked, and I know how to bear with them.”
3. “In everything that you do, pause and ask yourself if death is a dreadful thing because it deprives you of this”
4. “The fear of death is more to be feared than death itself. For death is an inevitable part of life, but the fear of it distorts your living.”
5. “The whole universe is change and life itself is but what you deem it. The things which are gone before are nothing, and all that remains is the present, the moment, the choice of how to live in this present moment.”
6. “The universe is transformation: life is opinion. Nothing is more suited to nature than to change.”
7. “Perfection of character is this: to live each day as if it were your last, without frenzy, without apathy, without pretence.”
8. “Death smiles at us all; all we can do is smile back.”
9. “Death is a release from the impressions of the senses, and from desires that make us their puppets, and from the vagaries of the mind, and from the hard service of the flesh.”
10. “We must make haste then, not only because we are daily nearer to death, but also because the conception of things and the understanding of them cease first.”

Marcus Aurelius quotes pay homage to the philosopher’s expressive ideas and future-oriented thinking. They will make us question freedom, ease to work, respect and love.

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