"At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: 'I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I'm going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do?'"
- Marcus Aurelius
Meditations
Marcus transforms the common experience of morning reluctance into an opportunity for remembering our larger purpose. Instead of seeing daily tasks as drudgery, he frames them as fulfilling our human nature and responsibilities. Going to work isn't just about earning money or meeting obligations - it's about participating in the human community, using our capacities, and contributing to the larger project of civilization. This perspective gives dignity and meaning to even mundane activities. Every job, when done with excellence and service, becomes a way of expressing our humanity and serving the common good. It's a profound reframe that can transform how we approach daily life.
Continue Your Stoic Journey
Meditations
Read the complete text
Stoic Philosophy
Understand the philosophical foundation
Morning Reflection Practice
Start your day like Marcus Aurelius
Famous Stoics
Other great Stoic philosophers
The Four Virtues
Core principles Marcus lived by
Stoic Principles
Essential teachings for daily life