Stoic Quote: Marcus Aurelius on Freedom: Stop Prizing Externals

Welcome to the Via Stoica Podcast, the podcast on Stoicism.

In this Stoic Quotes episode, Benny reflects on the words of Marcus Aurelius from Meditations, Book 6.16:

“And if you can’t stop prizing a lot of other things, then you’ll never be free.”

Marcus reminds himself that true freedom is not found in wealth, possessions, or status—but in learning to stop attaching value to what lies outside our control. For the Stoics, freedom means self-sufficiency, tranquility, and being free from the passions that disturb the soul.

Benny explores how this insight connects to the Discipline of Desire and the Stoic pursuit of eudaimonia—a flourishing life rooted in reason and virtue. Marcus, despite being emperor of Rome, knew the danger of craving more: it enslaves us to fortune and leaves us restless.

Drawing connections to Epictetus’ reminder that only our judgments and actions are truly ours, and Seneca’s warnings about wasted time and attachments, this episode shows how the Stoic path to freedom is inward, not outward.

Practical Reflections

• Examine what you prize most in life: are these things truly within your control?

• Practice gratitude for what you already have, instead of longing for what you lack.

• Remind yourself that all externals are on loan from fortune—when they leave, your character and choices remain.

For more, check out this related article with quotes on freedom:
https://viastoica.com/stoic-freedom/

And if you’re looking for more Stoic sayings, visit viastoica.com, where you’ll find hundreds of quotes with full references to the original texts:

https://viastoica.com/stoic-quotes
https://viastoica.com/marcus-aurelius-quotes
https://viastoica.com/epictetus-quotes
https://viastoica.com/seneca-quotes

Make sure to subscribe for more Stoic Quotes episodes every Friday, as well as our Tuesday interviews and longer discussions.
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