“The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Write your response
Take five minutes with it. No account needed to start, and nobody else can read what you write.
Respond to this passageWhere this comes from
Marcus Aurelius’ private notebooks, written for no audience but himself.
Marcus Aurelius. Roman emperor from 161 to 180 CE, and the last of the emperors remembered as the "Five Good Emperors". The notebooks we call Meditations were written in Greek, largely on campaign, and were never meant to be read by anyone else — which is why they read as instruction to himself rather than argument aimed at a reader.
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“The best way to avenge yourself is to not be like the wrongdoer.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
“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.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
“Look within. Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
“Whatever happens to you has been ready for you since all eternity.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations