Nothing lasts. Marcus Aurelius returns to this theme more than any other in the Meditations — the endless cycle of change, the briefness of life, the vanishing of everything we hold onto. But this is not pessimism. For the Stoics, impermanence is a call to live fully now, to appreciate what you have while you have it, and to release your grip on what was never yours to keep. Epictetus teaches the same lesson from a different angle: everything is on loan. Below are the passages where they confront change most directly.
One of the central themes in Marcus Aurelius' "Meditations" is the impermanence of all things. This Stoic philosophy emphasizes that everything in life is transient and fleeting. Marcus Aurelius reminds us that our possessions, relationships, and even our own lives are temporary. This realization can be both liberating and sobering.
By acknowledging the impermanence of things, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment. Instead of clinging to material possessions or external circumstances, we can focus on what truly matters: our character, our actions, and our relationships with others. This shift in perspective allows us to live more fully and authentically.
Marcus Aurelius encourages us to see the world as a constant flux, where change is the only constant. This view helps us to accept loss and change with greater equanimity. Rather than resisting the inevitable, we can embrace the natural cycle of life and death, growth and decay.
Moreover, understanding the impermanence of things can reduce our attachment to outcomes and external validation. It teaches us to value the process over the result to find joy in the journey rather than the destination. This mindset fosters resilience and adaptability, essential qualities for navigating life's uncertainties.
In "Meditations," Marcus Aurelius writes, "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." This quote underscores the importance of focusing on what we can control—our thoughts and actions—rather than being swayed by the impermanent nature of external events.
By embracing the impermanence of things, we can cultivate a deeper sense of peace and contentment. We learn to let go of what we cannot control and to cherish the moments and experiences that truly enrich our lives. This Stoic wisdom reminds us that life is precious and fleeting, and it is up to us to make the most of every moment.
In summary, Marcus Aurelius' teachings on the impermanence of things offer a profound perspective on life. By accepting change as a natural and inevitable part of existence, we can find greater joy, resilience, and contentment. This Stoic philosophy encourages us to focus on what truly matters and to live in harmony with the ever-changing world around us.
What the Stoics Said
The world’s cycles never change—up and down, from age to age.
Either the world’s intelligence wills each thing (if so, accept its will), or it exercised that will once—once and for all—and all else follows as a consequence (and if so, why worry?).
One way or another: atoms or unity. If it’s God, all is well. If it’s arbitrary, don’t imitate it.
The earth will cover us all, and then be transformed in turn, and that too will change, ad infinitum. And that as well, ad infinitum.
Think about them: the waves of change and alteration, endlessly breaking. And see our brief mortality for what it is.
Meditations 9.28
Everything in flux. And you too will alter in the whirl and perish, and the world as well.
Meditations 9.19
Not to live as if you had endless years ahead of you. Death overshadows you. While you’re alive and able—be good.
Meditations 4.17
Give yourself a gift: the present moment.
People out for posthumous fame forget that the Generations To Come will be the same annoying people they know now. And just as mortal. What does it matter to you if they say x about you, or think y?
Meditations 8.44
This is what you deserve. You could be good today. But instead you choose tomorrow.
Meditations 8.22a
Some things are rushing into existence, others out of it. Some of what now exists is already gone. Change and flux constantly remake the world, just as the incessant progression of time remakes eternity.
We find ourselves in a river. Which of the things around us should we value when none of them can offer a firm foothold?
Like an attachment to a sparrow: we glimpse it and it’s gone.
And life itself: like the decoction of blood, the drawing in of air. We expel the power of breathing we drew in at birth (just yesterday or the day before), breathing it out like the air we exhale at each moment.
Meditations 6.15
A trite but effective tactic against the fear of death: think of the list of people who had to be pried away from life. What did they gain by dying old? In the end, they all sleep six feet under—Caedicianus, Fabius, Julian, Lepidus, and all the rest. They buried their contemporaries, and were buried in turn.
Our lifetime is so brief. And to live it out in these circumstances, among these people, in this body? Nothing to get excited about. Consider the abyss of time past, the infinite future. Three days of life or three generations: what’s the difference?
Meditations 4.50
Don’t let yourself forget how many doctors have died, after furrowing their brows over how many deathbeds. How many astrologers, after pompous forecasts about others’ ends. How many philosophers, after endless disquisitions on death and immortality. How many warriors, after inflicting thousands of casualties themselves. How many tyrants, after abusing the power of life and death atrociously, as if they were themselves immortal.
How many whole cities have met their end: Helike, Pompeii, Herculaneum, and countless others.
And all the ones you know yourself, one after another. One who laid out another for burial, and was buried himself, and then the man who buried him—all in the same short space of time.
In short, know this: Human lives are brief and trivial. Yesterday a blob of semen; tomorrow embalming fluid, ash.
To pass through this brief life as nature demands. To give it up without complaint.
Like an olive that ripens and falls.
Praising its mother, thanking the tree it grew on.
Meditations 4.48
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Marcus Aurelius say about change?
Marcus Aurelius writes about change constantly. He calls the universe a river of flux where nothing remains the same. He reminds himself that empires fall, names are forgotten, and everything solid dissolves. But his point is not despair — it is perspective. If everything changes, then clinging to any particular state is irrational. Instead, focus on acting well in this moment, with whatever you have. Change is not something that happens to you; it is the nature of reality itself, and resisting it causes suffering.
What do the Stoics say about impermanence?
The Stoics teach that impermanence is built into the structure of the universe. Everything is material, and all material things transform. Marcus Aurelius uses vivid examples: the court of Augustus is dust, the victories of Alexander are forgotten, even the stars will burn out. Epictetus teaches a complementary lesson: everything you have — your body, your possessions, your relationships — is on loan from nature, and nature can reclaim it at any time. Understanding this is not morbid; it is the foundation of gratitude and freedom.
How does accepting impermanence help?
Accepting impermanence reduces suffering in two ways. First, it prevents you from clinging to things that will inevitably change — health, youth, success, relationships in their current form. Second, it deepens your appreciation for what you have right now. Marcus Aurelius practiced negative visualization: imagining loss not to induce fear but to sharpen gratitude. When you truly understand that this moment will not come again, you pay better attention to it. Acceptance is not resignation — it is clear-eyed engagement with reality.
What did Marcus Aurelius say about death?
Marcus Aurelius wrote about death frequently and without fear. He saw it as natural — the same process that transforms everything else in the universe. He reminds himself that Alexander the Great and his mule driver ended up in the same place. He writes that death is not an evil but a function of nature. His practical advice: do not waste time, do not postpone what matters, and do not let the fear of death prevent you from living well. Death makes life urgent; it does not make life meaningless.
Is impermanence the same in Stoicism and Buddhism?
Stoicism and Buddhism share the recognition that all things change and that attachment to permanence causes suffering. Both teach practices for accepting this reality. However, the frameworks differ. Buddhism teaches that the self itself is impermanent (anatta) and seeks liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Stoicism maintains a strong sense of individual agency and moral duty — you accept change, but you also act virtuously within it. Marcus Aurelius embraces flux but still insists on doing your job well. Both paths lead to equanimity, but through different philosophical architectures.
How to let go of attachment the Stoic way?
Epictetus offers a direct method: whenever you enjoy something, remind yourself of its nature. He gives the example of kissing your child goodnight and saying to yourself, 'Tomorrow you may not be here' — not to induce anxiety, but to cherish the moment fully and prepare yourself for loss. Marcus Aurelius practices this through reflection on time: everything you have already existed before you and will exist after you. The Stoic method is not to stop caring but to hold things with open hands — loving them without demanding they stay.