“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.”
What this quote means
This quote from Marcus Aurelius invites us to recognize that our suffering in the face of external events comes from our interpretation, not from the event itself. By realizing that we have the power to change our perception, we can free ourselves from the grip of our judgments. It applies to daily annoyances, criticism, or unexpected events, reminding us that our inner peace depends on our ability to choose our perspective.
How to apply it daily
When you feel upset by a situation, write down your automatic thoughts, then reframe them in a more neutral or positive way to regain control over your reaction.
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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More quotes by Marcus Aurelius
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