The Best Quotes of Marcus Aurelius & Their Modern Relevance
To Us Today
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor who lived from 121 to 180 CE.
He was also a philosopher who wrote Meditations, a collection of his private thoughts about life, duty, and staying calm in tough times.
His ideas are still helpful today because they teach us how to be strong, kind, and focused.
On these topics, the works of Seneca and Sun Tzu may also be of value to you.
Below is a collection of quotes attributed to Marcus Aurelius, on various aspects of life that are as universal and timeless as ever.
The Best Quotes of Marcus Aurelius
On Life, Death, Duty & Love
On Life, Death, Duty & Love
You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
What It Means: Marcus is saying you can’t control what happens around you, like bad weather or someone being mean, but you can control how you think about it. Staying calm and positive is your superpower
Modern Relevance: Today, social media can make us feel upset or jealous when we see others’ perfect lives. This quote reminds us to focus on our own thoughts and not let likes or comments control how we feel.
The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.
What It Means: If you think negative thoughts, you’ll feel sad. If you focus on good thoughts, you’ll be happier. Your mind shapes how you see the world.
Modern Relevance: With so much bad news online, it’s easy to feel stressed. This quote encourages us to practice gratitude, like writing down three things we’re thankful for each day, to boost our mood.
Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.
What It Means: People have different views, and what they say or show isn’t always the full truth. Be open to questioning what you hear or see.
Modern Relevance: Fake news and misleading posts on the internet can trick us. This quote reminds us to check facts and think critically before believing something we read or watch.
Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.
What It Means: Instead of talking about what makes a person good, just do good things. Actions matter more than words.
Modern Relevance: On social media, people often argue about who’s right or wrong. This quote pushes us to stop debating and start helping others, like volunteering or being kind to a classmate.
If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.
What It Means: Only do things that are fair and honest, and only speak the truth. Stick to what’s right, no matter what.
Modern Relevance: In school or online, peer pressure can make us want to lie or act mean to fit in. This quote inspires us to stay honest and kind, even when it’s hard.
The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.
What It Means: If someone hurts you, don’t act like them or try to hurt them back. Be better by staying kind and calm.
Modern Relevance: Cyberbullying is common today. This quote teaches us not to respond with hate but to stay positive and report bullying instead of fighting back.
Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together.
What It Means: Life brings challenges and people you can’t choose, like family or classmates. Embrace them with patience and care.
Modern Relevance: We often complain about things we can’t change, like a tough teacher or a family rule. This quote encourages us to accept them and find ways to get along.
Our life is what our thoughts make it.
What It Means: Your thoughts create your reality. If you think life is awful, it will feel that way. If you think it’s full of possibilities, it will be.
Modern Relevance: When we’re stressed about tests or sports, negative thinking can make it worse. This quote reminds us to think positively, like believing we can improve with practice.
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
What It Means: You don’t need fancy things to be happy. Happiness comes from how you think about what you already have.
Modern Relevance: Ads and influencers make us want new phones or clothes to feel cool. This quote shows that being content with what we have, like friends or hobbies, brings real joy.
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive.
What It Means: Every day is a gift. Be grateful for being alive and make the most of it by doing something meaningful.
Modern Relevance: It’s easy to feel bored or lazy, especially with so much screen time. This quote inspires us to start each day with excitement, like trying a new activity or helping someone.
The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.
What It Means: Your thoughts shape who you are. If you think kind and positive thoughts, your personality will shine. Negative thoughts can make you feel dark and heavy.
Modern Relevance: Spending hours on negative social media posts can make us feel angry or sad. This quote reminds us to follow accounts that inspire us, like those about art or nature, to keep our minds bright.
It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.
What It Means: Don’t worry about things you can’t control, like dying. Instead, be afraid of not living fully, like never trying new things or chasing dreams.
Modern Relevance: Many kids avoid new activities, like joining a club, because they’re scared of failing. This quote encourages us to take risks, like trying out for a team, to make life exciting.
Do every act of your life as if it were your last.
What It Means: Treat every task, big or small, with care and effort, as if it’s the most important thing you’ll ever do. Live with purpose.
Modern Relevance: When doing work or chores, we often rush through. This quote pushes us to do our best, like studying carefully for a test, because every moment counts.
Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if you will ever dig.
What It Means: Good things, like kindness and strength, come from inside you. If you look for them and work on them, they’ll grow stronger.
Modern Relevance: In a world obsessed with likes and followers, we might forget our own strengths. This quote reminds us to build confidence by reflecting on what makes us unique, like our talents or values.
What need is there to weep over parts of life? The whole of it calls for tears.
What It Means: Life is full of ups and downs, so don’t get stuck crying over one bad moment. Accept that challenges are part of the bigger picture.
Modern Relevance: Failing a work task or losing a game can feel like the end of the world. This quote teaches us to see these as small parts of life and keep moving forward with hope.
No man can escape his fate, but he can decide how to meet it.
What It Means: You can’t change what life throws at you, but you can choose how to react. Be brave and face challenges with a good attitude.
Modern Relevance: When a family moves or a friend leaves, it’s tough. This quote inspires us to stay positive, like making new friends or finding fun in a new place, instead of giving up.
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
What It Means: If you’re at peace with yourself, you’ll feel connected to the world. Being honest and calm inside helps you get along with others.
Modern Relevance: Online arguments can make us feel stressed or fake. This quote encourages us to be true to ourselves, like standing up for what we believe in kindly, to feel balanced.
The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.
What It Means: Everything in life changes, like seasons or friendships. How you think about those changes decides whether you’re happy or not.
Modern Relevance: New tech, like AI or apps, changes how we live. This quote reminds us to adapt with a positive mindset, like learning to use new tools instead of fearing them.
Be content with what you are, and wish not to change; nor dread your last day, nor long for it.
What It Means: Be happy with who you are right now, and don’t stress about the future or wish to be someone else. Accept yourself and life as it is.
Modern Relevance: Comparing ourselves to influencers can make us feel less cool. This quote teaches us to love our own style and hobbies, like enjoying skateboarding without needing to be the best.
To live happily is an inward power of the soul.
What It Means: Happiness doesn’t come from things like money or fame. It comes from inside, from staying strong and positive no matter what happens.
Modern Relevance: Ads tell us we need new gadgets to be happy. This quote reminds us that real joy comes from simple things, like laughing with friends or helping someone in need.