Marcus Aurelius Quotes and the Daily Habits Behind His Stoic Wisdom

 

Marcus Aurelius' quotes are among some of the most famous and profound statements in ancient Roman history. Aurelius, who was a Roman emperor between the years of 161 AD and 180 AD, was known as "the last of the 'Five Good Emperors.'" During his time in politics, he led successful military campaigns against German tribes, he improved Roman roads and transportation networks, founded schools, and demonstrated a religious tolerance that was significant for the time.

Aurelius was also somewhat of an impromptu philosopher. The vast majority of his famous quotes are taken from his personal journal referred to as Meditations. He kept this journal for his own personal fulfillment and probably did not intend for it to ever be seen by the public. It was first printed for public consumption hundreds of years after his death in 1558, after a manuscript was preserved.

Some of Marcus Aurelius' most famous quotes from his journal are:

• "You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."
• "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts."
• "The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts."

So, what daily habits did Marcus Aurelius have that allowed him to follow his own stoic wisdom?

Aurelius wrote Meditations during his military campaigns. At the time, he was also suffering through health complications and grieving the deaths of several of his children. Because of the many struggles that Aurelius experienced in his lifetime, his writing in Medications were not just idle thoughts. They were words he lived by to help him get through hardships.

Every morning, Aurelius would wake up after having slept on simple bedding and having avoided useless distractions. He would, then, reflect and mentally prepare himself for the tasks of the day. In Meditations, he spoke of these times when he mentioned the need to prepare oneself when about to encounter the faults of other people. He would also use the mornings to read and write. 

Aurelius would then go to work, often choosing to focus on one task at a time rather than multi-tasking. He would also incorporate movement and exercise into his daily routine. He is known to have liked boxing, wrestling, horseback riding, and walking. 

What can we learn from Marcus Aurelius' routine and habits?

There is one major takeaway: Reflect on what must be done in the day or week and then do it. Do not lie to yourself by making promises about what you will do and how you will act and, then, not keeping them. Aurelius thought for many hours about the best way to approach his daily tasks. He favored handling one task over handling many. He liked to mentally visualize his day. However, one thing he did not do was plan to behave a certain way and proceed not to. The result of this will and determination can be seen in his political accomplishments.