Name: Marcus Aurelius
Lived: 121–180 AD, Roman Empire
Known for: Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher
Famous for: Author of Meditations, a journal of personal reflections on virtue, duty, and reason
Note: The phrase “The soul is dyed by its thoughts” is one of the most beautiful and well-known quotes by Marcus Aurelius. It appears in Meditations (Book 5, Section 16). A key idea in Stoic thought, it reminds us that our mindset shapes who we are — and urges us to keep it clear and strong.