“I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than on the opinions of others.”
What this quote means
Marcus Aurelius's reflection highlights a human paradox: we love ourselves more than anything, but we give more credence to others' opinions than to our own. This reveals our need for social approval and our tendency to doubt ourselves. This quote pushes us to examine our relationship with self-esteem and the importance we give to the external gaze. It invites us to cultivate inner confidence and not let others' judgments dictate our worth.
How to apply it daily
Choose a recent decision and ask yourself: did I follow my own judgment or that of others? Reaffirm your choice if necessary.
Reading guide
Which book should you read to discover Marcus Aurelius?
Our starting point
Discovering Stoicism through short reflections
Meditations
The most direct way to encounter the themes behind the quotes: attention, duty, and control over what depends on us.
- Level
- Intermediate
- Reading time
- 4–6 hours, best read slowly
- Formats to compare
- Print · Ebook · Audio
Merchant links help compare editions. Recommendations are editorially independent.
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