The most extraordinary phrases of Marcus Aurelius on happiness and love

Known in his day as Marcus Annius Verus, Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and philosopher known for his contributions to and advocacy of Stoicism.a philosophical current that stands out for the development and management of self-control over negative situations and contexts.

This philosopher of Stoicism was characterized by defending and emphasizing the privilege of living and loving. This is how he defines it in one of his most famous phrases which summarizes his main ideas: “When you get up in the morning, think about the privilege of living: breathing, thinking, enjoying, loving”.

For the philosophers belonging to Stoicismlike Seneca, Epictetus, Crispus de Solos and Massimo Pigliucci, the notion of happiness it is intrinsically linked to aspects that are under the direct control of each individual and do not depend on external circumstances outside their domain.

In Stoic philosophy this is believed true happiness comes from the ability to cultivate virtue, maintain serenity and accept with equanimity what is beyond our control. This approach encourages people to find joy and satisfaction in their behavior and attitudes, regardless of fluctuations in external fortune.

This perspective on human reality can be visualized in two statements present in “Meditations”, a work that collects his thoughts and notes on life.

“It doesn’t take much to have a happy life; it’s all within you, in your way of thinking”; “Accept the things that fate binds you to and love the people that fate brings you, but do so with all your heart.”

His work was written in Greek and described his life in his last 12 years before he died. There, the Roman emperor wrote to himself with the goal of improving as a human being, emperor, and citizen.

The writing is divided into 12 volumes and its texts contain meditations on the human condition, on life, on death, on the universe, on creation, on morality, on luck, on the values ​​of philosophy that people should draw inspiration from.

Marcus Aurelius’ most extraordinary quotes about love

• When you wake up in the morning, think about the privilege of living: breathing, thinking, enjoying, loving.
• Love only what happens, what is destined. There is no greater harmony
• It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than others, but we care more about their opinion than our own.
• Simply put your focus and desire on being good to yourself in whatever you do.
• A man’s life is what his thoughts make it.
• We are born to work together, just like feet, hands, eyelids and rows of teeth.
• If there are no gods, then your life will simply be over but it will have been noble and your memory will live on in the memories of those you love.
• Accept the things that fate binds you to and love the people that fate brings you, but do so with all your heart.
• When another person blames you or hates you, or people criticize you, go into their soul, go deep inside and see what kind of people they are.