Short answer
Marcus Aurelius was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD and the author of the Meditations, twelve books of private notes written in Greek, mostly during military campaigns on the Danube frontier. His best known lines are reminders to himself: to expect difficult people, to retreat into his own mind rather than to the countryside, to stand like a promontory against the waves, to remember that what disturbs him is his judgment, to act well because death is near, and to stop talking about what a good man should be and be one. Below are twelve of them, quoted from George Long’s public domain translation with their book and section, followed by what each meant in context and how it applies now. Wording differs from modern translations, but the thought is the same.
Key takeaways
- The Meditations were not written for publication. They are notes of a man arguing with himself, often on hard days.
- Most famous lines are reminders, not doctrines. They work best as prompts to an argument you understand.
- Recurring themes: other people, the inner citadel, judgment, impermanence, death, duty and the common good.
- Long’s 1862 translation is in the public domain. Modern translations often phrase the same lines more briefly.
- Context matters: lines that seem harsh about people are usually Marcus calming his own irritation.
1. “Begin the morning by saying to thyself…”
“Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busy-body, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial.” (Meditations 2.1)
Context. The opening of Book 2. Marcus goes on to say that these people act this way from ignorance of good and evil, that they are his kin, and that he cannot be harmed by them or be angry with them, because we are made for cooperation, like feet, hands and eyelids.
Meaning today. Not pessimism, but preparation. Expect friction and decide in advance not to be dragged into it. The second half, that difficult people are kin, is the part usually left out and the part that makes it Stoic rather than cynical. See Stoicism at work.
2. “Retire into thyself”
“Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores, and mountains… But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself.” (Meditations 4.3)
Context. One of the longest sections of the book. Marcus argues that no retreat is quieter than one’s own soul, especially for someone with principles to return to, and recommends renewing yourself there often.
Meaning today. You do not need a holiday to regain calm, though holidays are fine. A few minutes of returning to your principles can do much of the work. This is the idea Pierre Hadot called the “inner citadel”.
3. “Be like the promontory”
“Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break, but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water around it.” (Meditations 4.49)
Context. Marcus continues by imagining someone saying “unhappy am I because this has happened to me”, and answering: no, happy am I, because although this has happened I continue free from pain, not crushed by the present nor fearing the future.
Meaning today. Steadiness does not mean nothing hits you. The waves keep coming. The point is not to be moved by them in the way that matters.
4. “It is not this thing that disturbs thee”
“If thou art pained by any external thing, it is not this thing that disturbs thee, but thy own judgment about it. And it is in thy power to wipe out this judgment now.” (Meditations 8.47)
Context. Marcus is restating a core Stoic principle, also found in Epictetus. He adds that if what pains you is something in your own disposition, you can change your opinion, and if it is that you are not doing something that seems right, why not do it?
Meaning today. The central Stoic claim about emotions. “Wipe out this judgment now” is optimistic; usually it takes practice. See impressions and assent.
5. “In the morning when thou risest unwillingly”
“In the morning when thou risest unwillingly, let this thought be present: I am rising to the work of a human being.” (Meditations 5.1)
Context. Marcus, tired, arguing himself out of bed by reminding himself that he was made to act, not to lie warm under the blankets.
Meaning today. Duty, not productivity. See Marcus Aurelius on getting out of bed.
6. “That which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road”
“…the mind converts and changes every hindrance to its activity into an aid; and so that which is a hindrance is made a furtherance to an act; and that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road.” (Meditations 5.20)
Context. Marcus is thinking about people who obstruct him. They can block his action, he says, but not his intention or disposition, because the mind adapts and turns the obstacle into material.
Meaning today. The source of the modern slogan “the obstacle is the way”. See “the impediment to action advances action”.
7. “Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years”
“Do not act as if thou wert going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good.” (Meditations 4.17)
Context. One of many short reminders of mortality throughout the book.
Meaning today. The heart of memento mori: not fear of death but urgency about living well. See memento mori.
8. “Regulate every act and thought accordingly”
“Since it is possible that thou mayest depart from life this very moment, regulate every act and thought accordingly.” (Meditations 2.11)
Context. Marcus goes on to argue that death is not an evil for a good person, and that if there are gods, leaving life is nothing to fear.
Meaning today. Act as if this might be your last chance to do it well. Not morbidly, but carefully.
9. “No longer talk at all about the kind of man that a good man ought to be”
“No longer talk at all about the kind of man that a good man ought to be, but be such.” (Meditations 10.16)
Context. A short, impatient note. Marcus was a lifelong student of philosophy, and this is him telling himself to stop studying and start doing.
Meaning today. Perhaps the most useful line for anyone reading about Stoicism, including on this site.
10. “Look within”
“Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig.” (Meditations 7.59)
Context. One of several reminders that the good, for a Stoic, is in one’s own character, not in external things.
Meaning today. The resources for living well are mostly already in you. The work is digging: attention, reflection, practice.
11. “Take care that thou art not made into a Caesar”
“Take care that thou art not made into a Caesar, that thou art not dyed with this dye; for such things happen.” (Meditations 6.30)
Context. A remarkable note from an emperor to himself. He goes on to list the virtues he wants to keep, simple, good, pure, serious, just, kind, and to recall his adoptive father Antoninus Pius as a model.
Meaning today. Power, success and status change people. Watch for it in yourself.
12. “That which is not good for the swarm”
“That which is not good for the swarm, neither is it good for the bee.” (Meditations 6.54)
Context. One of Marcus’s many statements of the social side of Stoicism: the individual’s good cannot be separated from the good of the community.
Meaning today. A useful test for any decision. If it helps you and harms the people around you, it does not really help you. See justice.
Reading the Meditations yourself
If these lines interest you, the whole book is short and free in Long’s translation. Read it slowly, a few sections at a time, and expect repetition: Marcus returns to the same ideas because he needed to, as most of us do.
Frequently asked questions
What are Marcus Aurelius's most famous quotes?
Among the best known: “Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busy-body…” (2.1), “Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break” (4.49), and “No longer talk at all about the kind of man that a good man ought to be, but be such” (10.16).
Where do Marcus Aurelius quotes come from?
Almost all from the Meditations, his private notebook in twelve books, written in Greek during the 170s AD.
Why do Marcus Aurelius quotes vary between websites?
Because they come from different translations. Older translations like George Long’s are more literal; modern ones are shorter and more quotable.
Did Marcus Aurelius say "the obstacle is the way"?
Not in those words. The phrase is a modern summary of Meditations 5.20, which in Long’s translation says that “that which is an obstacle on the road helps us on this road”.
Sources
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, trans. George Long, MIT Internet Classics Archive, accessed October 22, 2026
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Marcus Aurelius, accessed October 22, 2026
- Pierre Hadot, The Inner Citadel: The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, trans. Michael Chase, Harvard University Press, 1998.