Marcus Aurelius Quotes
Marcus Aurelius ruled Rome from 161 to 180 AD and wrote the Meditations, private notes to himself never meant for publication. Every quote below is from the Meditations, with its book and section so you can check it yourself.
6 real Marcus Aurelius quotes, with sources
“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”Marcus Aurelius — Meditations 5.20
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”Marcus Aurelius — Meditations 10.16
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”Marcus Aurelius — Meditations 7.67
“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”Marcus Aurelius — Meditations 12.17
“Such as are your habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts.”Marcus Aurelius — Meditations 5.16
“Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature's delight.”Marcus Aurelius — Meditations 9.35
Famous quotes Marcus Aurelius never said
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”A modern paraphrase that circulates online. The idea is Stoic, but this sentence is not in the Meditations.
Who was Marcus Aurelius?
The last of the “Five Good Emperors”, Marcus ruled through plague and almost constant war on the Danube frontier. In his tent at night he wrote short reminders on how to stay calm, fair and useful, the Meditations, now one of the most-read books of philosophy in the world. Read more on Wikipedia.
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What is Marcus Aurelius's most famous quote?
One of the best known is “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” (Meditations 5.20)
Did Marcus Aurelius really say “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”?
No. A modern paraphrase that circulates online. The idea is Stoic, but this sentence is not in the Meditations.
Where do these Marcus Aurelius quotes come from?
Marcus Aurelius ruled Rome from 161 to 180 AD and wrote the Meditations, private notes to himself never meant for publication. Every quote below is from the Meditations, with its book and section so you can check it yourself.
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