30+ Best Inspirational and thought-provoking Marcus Aurelius Quotes

Marcus Aurelius, a Roman Emperor from 161 to 180, was known as the last of the Five Good Emperors and is also considered one of the most important Stoic philosophers.

Today, Aurelius is perhaps best known for his collection of essays called Meditations, written in Greek on campaign between 170 and 180. It’s revered as a literary monument to a philosophy of service and duty, describing how to find and preserve equanimity in the midst of conflict by following nature as a source of guidance and inspiration. Especially, it’s found a lot of famous inspirational and thought-provoking Marcus Aurelius quotes from this stoic tome.

Think twice at these amazing quotes

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


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


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


The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.


Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.


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.


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


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


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.



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.


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.


Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Fate is at your elbow; make yourself good while life and power are still yours.


If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.


Let not your mind run on what you lack as much as on what you have already.


Every man’s life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain.


It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.


The art of living is more like that of wrestling than of dancing; the main thing is to stand firm and be ready for an unseen attack.


That which is not good for the bee-hive cannot be good for the bees.


The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.


The sexual embrace can only be compared with music and with prayer.


What we do now echoes in eternity.


The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.


Be content with what you are, and wish not change; nor dread your last day, nor long for it.


Do every act of your life as though it were the very last act of your life.


Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.


Confine yourself to the present.


Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.


Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig.


Life is neither good or evil, but only a place for good and evil.


To understand the true quality of people, you must look into their minds, and examine their pursuits and aversions.


Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.


To the wise, life is a problem; to the fool, a solution.