Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches us how to live a good life by following the universe’s natural order and practicing virtue as the only true good. In this blog post, I will explore one of the most famous quotes from a Stoic emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and how it can inspire us to live more mindfully and gratefully.
The quote is: “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive — to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
This quote reminds us of several critical Stoic principles:
- We should appreciate the gift of life and not take it for granted. Every day is a new opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to the world. We should not waste our time on trivial matters or negative emotions that distract us from our true purpose. - We should focus on what we can control and not worry about what we cannot. The Stoics believed that we are only responsible for our actions and judgments and that everything else is indifferent or outside our power. We should accept the events that happen to us with equanimity and not let them disturb our inner peace. - We should cultivate a sense of gratitude and joy for the simple things in life. The Stoics taught that happiness depends not on external things, such as wealth, fame, or pleasure, but on our inner state of mind. We should be content with what we have and not crave more. We should also enjoy the beauty of nature and the bonds of friendship and love that enrich our lives.
We can become more resilient, wise, and virtuous by applying these Stoic lessons to our daily lives. We can also experience more happiness and fulfillment in every moment. As Marcus Aurelius said, “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” So let us start each day with a positive and grateful attitude and make the most of this precious privilege of being alive.
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Stoicism and the precious privilege of being alive
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Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches us how to live a good life by following the universe’s natural order and practicing virtue as the only true good. In this blog post, I will explore one of the most famous quotes from a Stoic emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and how it can inspire us to live more mindfully and gratefully.
The quote is: “When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive — to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
This quote reminds us of several critical Stoic principles:
- We should appreciate the gift of life and not take it for granted. Every day is a new opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to the world. We should not waste our time on trivial matters or negative emotions that distract us from our true purpose.
- We should focus on what we can control and not worry about what we cannot. The Stoics believed that we are only responsible for our actions and judgments and that everything else is indifferent or outside our power. We should accept the events that happen to us with equanimity and not let them disturb our inner peace.
- We should cultivate a sense of gratitude and joy for the simple things in life. The Stoics taught that happiness depends not on external things, such as wealth, fame, or pleasure, but on our inner state of mind. We should be content with what we have and not crave more. We should also enjoy the beauty of nature and the bonds of friendship and love that enrich our lives.
We can become more resilient, wise, and virtuous by applying these Stoic lessons to our daily lives. We can also experience more happiness and fulfillment in every moment. As Marcus Aurelius said, “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” So let us start each day with a positive and grateful attitude and make the most of this precious privilege of being alive.
Philosophy
Politics
Stoicism
Self Improvement
Self-awareness