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
Both happiness and unhappiness depend on perception
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our feelings of happiness or unhappiness are influenced by how we perceive our circumstances.
Marcus Aurelius suggests that our emotional states, whether positive or negative, are not solely determined by external events but rather by our interpretation of those events. This highlights the power of perception in shaping our experiences, emphasizing the notion that two people can experience the same situation yet feel differently based on their outlook.
Themes
HappinessPerceptionEmotionsPhilosophyMindset
In practice
Example use cases
In a talk about resilience, one might say, 'As Marcus Aurelius reminds us, both happiness and unhappiness depend on perception.'
More from Marcus Aurelius
All quotes βYou 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.
Marcus AureliusRead
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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Truth be told, John said, the one thing in this world I want more than anything else is a great big crowbar, to jimmy myself open and take whatever creature that's sitting inside and shake it clean like a rug and then rinse it in a cold, clear lake like up in Oregon, and then I want to put it under the sun to let it heal and dry and grow and sit and come to consciousness again with a clear and quiet mind.
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What did I really think fifteen years ago? A nonbeliever, I felt guilty in the midst of all those believers. And since it seemed to me that they were in the right, I decided to believe, as you might decide to take an aspirin: It can't hurt and you might get better.
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