Words To Live By
A Compilation of Marcus Aurelius’s Best Quotes from Meditations
I’ve been diving back into Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, a book that feels like a conversation with a wise friend who’s seen it all. His words, scribbled as notes to himself while leading an empire, cut through life’s noise with clarity and calm. They’re not just thoughts—they’re guides for living well, whether you’re facing chaos or seeking purpose. Let’s sit down and revisit some of his most powerful quotes. Here are my top picks from Meditations, raw and unfiltered, to spark your own reflections.
“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”
“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.”
“Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.”
“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.”
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
“You don’t need to be rich to live with dignity; a simple life is enough.”
“The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.”
“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”
“The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.”
“Look well into thyself; there is a source of strength which will always spring up if thou wilt always look.”
“What need is there of suspicious fear, since it is in thy power to inquire what ought to be done?”
“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.”
“Nothing happens to anyone that he is not fitted by nature to bear.”
“How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks.”
“Do every act of your life as if it were your last.”
“To live happily is an inward power of the soul.”
“You are a little soul carrying about a corpse.”
“Reject your sense of injury, and the injury itself disappears.”
We’d love to hear which quotes hit home for you! Share in the comments 💬 your favorite from Marcus Aurelius or how his words spark your thoughts. If this resonated, give it a like ❤️ to share the wisdom. Let’s keep reflecting together!
Previously
“Nothing happens to anyone that he is not fitted by nature to bear.”
Four years ago I contracted COVID and since then have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, myalgic encephalomyelitis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic injuries, a seizure disorder, and cognitive injury with tbi symptoms. The above quote truly and deeply resonates with me. Thank you for posting all of them.
Refreshing nuggets!