Q0041
“If you are distressed by anything external, it is not the thing…” — Marcus Aurelius (Meditations VIII.47)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Meditations VIII.47. Theme: freedom.
English
If you are distressed by anything external, it is not the thing itself that disturbs you, but your own judgment about it.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Meditations VIII.47 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
Philosophers distinguish several ideas under the single word freedom. Negative freedom emphasizes non-interference; positive freedom emphasizes the capacity to act according to reasons, virtue, or authentic desire. This passage enters that discussion through freedom.
Concepts in this quote
- Freedom
- Freedom is among the most searched and most contested themes in philosophy: what it is to choose, to be responsible, and to live without illegitimate constraint.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Marcus Aurelius. (n.d.). If you are distressed by anything external, it is not the thing itself that disturbs you, but your own judgment about it. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0041
MLA: Marcus Aurelius. “If you are distressed by anything external, it….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0041.
Chicago: Marcus Aurelius. “If you are distressed by anything external, it….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0041.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “If you are distressed by anything external, it…”?
The passage is attributed to Marcus Aurelius, Meditations VIII.47. The archive attributes this English wording to Meditations VIII.47 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 freedom?
Philosophers distinguish several ideas under the single word freedom. Negative freedom emphasizes non-interference; positive freedom emphasizes the capacity to act according to reasons, virtue, or authentic desire. This passage enters that discussion through freedom.