I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than on the opinions of others.
Marcus AureliusRead
Death is a release from the impressions of the senses, and from desires that make us their puppets, and from the vagaries of the mind, and from the hard service of the flesh.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that death liberates us from physical desires and mental distractions.
Marcus Aurelius reflects on the nature of death as a form of release from the burdens imposed by the senses, desires, and the mind's fluctuations. He emphasizes that the experience of living can often make us feel like mere puppets, controlled by external influences, and that death offers a final freedom from these constraints, allowing us to escape the relentless demands of our physical existence.
Themes
DeathFreedomDesiresMindRelease
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a philosophical discussion to provoke thoughts about the nature of existence.
More from Marcus Aurelius
All quotes →You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
Marcus AureliusRead
Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.
Marcus AureliusRead
Vex not thy spirit at the course of things; they heed not thy vexation. How ludicrous and outlandish is astonishment at anything that may happen in life.
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You don't have to turn this into something. It doesn't have to upset you. Things can't shape our decisions by themselves.
Marcus AureliusRead
A man's worth is no greater than his ambitions.
Marcus AureliusRead
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