“Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”
What this quote means
This quote encourages us not to let anxiety about an uncertain future overwhelm us. It reminds us that reason, the faculty that guides us today, will be just as available tomorrow to face challenges. It's an invitation to trust in our abilities, to be present-minded, and to be certain that we already have within us the tools needed to face the unknown.
How to apply it daily
When worry about the future grips you, refocus on the present moment and on the skills you already use to solve today's problems.
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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