On our own work
"In the morning when thou risest unwillingly, let this thought be present—I am rising to the work of a human being." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 5
On winning and losing
"It is difficult to combine and unite these two qualities, the carefulness of one who is affected by circumstances, and the intrepidity of one who heeds them not." — Epictetus, Discourses, Book II
On what we overlook
"Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul, above all when he has within him such thoughts that by looking into them he is immediately at perfect ease." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV
On what remains
"Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the Universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are and to make new things like them." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV
On the unknown
"Nature has given us the seeds of knowledge, not knowledge itself." — Seneca, Letters to Lucilius (Letter CXX)
On perspective
"Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV
On death
You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations II.11
On enough
Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants. — Attributed to Epictetus
On adversity
The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. — Epictetus, as recorded in the Discourses
On time
It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it. — Seneca, On the Shortness of Life
On other people
When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: the people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations II.1
On the examined day
I will keep constant watch over myself and, most usefully, will put each day up for review. — Seneca, Letters to Lucilius I
On what we control
Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life. — Epictetus, Enchiridion VIII
On beginning again
Confine yourself to the present. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations VIII.7
Daily Meditations is a companion to Marcus, a Stoic practice app for iOS: daily journaling, guided meditation, and a structured evening reckoning.
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