Q0037
“Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in…” — Marcus Aurelius (Meditations V.16)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Meditations V.16. Theme: character.
English
Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the soul is dyed by its impressions.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Meditations V.16 and files it under Stoicism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) was Roman emperor from 161 and a practicing Stoic who wrote private Greek notes later titled Meditations. He spent much of his reign on military campaigns along the Danube amid plague and political strain.
How to read this passage
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Arthur Schopenhauer and Heraclitus), character is framed through Confucianism and Voluntarism. Some passages define character; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through character.
Concepts in this quote
- Character
- Character appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat character as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Marcus Aurelius. (n.d.). Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the soul is dyed by its impressions. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0037
MLA: Marcus Aurelius. “Your mind will take the shape of what….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0037.
Chicago: Marcus Aurelius. “Your mind will take the shape of what….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0037.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Your mind will take the shape of what…”?
The passage is attributed to Marcus Aurelius, Meditations V.16. The archive attributes this English wording to Meditations V.16 and files it under Stoicism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Marcus Aurelius mean by character?
Across 4 recurring voices here (notably Arthur Schopenhauer and Heraclitus), character is framed through Confucianism and Voluntarism. Some passages define character; others warn how it fails; still others relocate it inside habit, community, or language. This passage enters that discussion through character.