---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I…"
description: "\"“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside.”\" — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/marcus-aurelius-meditations-37_anxiety_today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarde_478464.jpg"
---

#  Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it…

![“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside.” quote by Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/marcus-aurelius-meditations-37_anxiety_today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarde_478464.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/marcus-aurelius-meditations-37_anxiety_today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarde_478464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/marcus-aurelius-meditations-37_anxiety_today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarde_478464.jpg)

> ““Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside.””

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Anxiety originates internally; discarding it changes perception.

**In simple terms:** Anxiety is a mental construct.

Key Takeaway

Shift mindset to reduce anxiety.

Themes

philosophy mental health self‑control

Mood

calm thoughtful

Type

philosophical self‑help

When to use this quote

- stressful work
- personal crises
- mindfulness practice

Key Concepts

Stoicism cognitive reframing

Questions to Reflect On

- What internal beliefs fuel your anxiety?
- How can you reframe perceptions to feel calmer?

A Different Perspective

Changing perception may not eliminate external stressors.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Discarded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-discarded-3500999/) [Discarded Perceptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discarded-perceptions-4118126/) [Escaped Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escaped-anxiety-3501000/) [Stoicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stoicism/) [Today Escaped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-escaped-3501001/)

## Related quotes

> [“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions—not outside.”   Aurelius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-mann/today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarded-it-because-it-was-within-me-2/)

[Dominic Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-mann/)

> [Today I escaped all circumstance, or rather I cast out all circumstance, for it was not outside me, but within my judgements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/today-i-escaped-all-circumstance-or-rather-i-cast-out-all/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [“And here lies the essential between Stoicism and the modern-day 'cult of optimism.' For the Stoics, the ideal state of mind was tranquility, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-burkeman/and-here-lies-the-essential-between-stoicism-and-the-modern-day-cult/)

[Oliver Burkeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-burkeman/)

> [“You can't find love because you think there’s always someone better one swipe away. "You think you’re discerning? You are treating connection like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lokesh-tuli/you-can-t-find-love-because-you-think-there-s-always-someone-better/)

[Lokesh Tuli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lokesh-tuli/)

> [See, I don’t expect to win a prize for stoic control and dignity at mourning time. Death deserve tantrums. Beating back shocked indignation, kicks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruby-dee/see-i-don-t-expect-to-win-a-prize-for-stoic-control-and-dignity-at/)

[Ruby Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruby-dee/)

> [“You should … live in such a way that there is nothing which you could not as easily tell your enemy as keep to yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-annaeus-seneca/you-should-live-in-such-a-way-that-there-is-nothing-which-you-could/)

[Lucius Annaeus Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-annaeus-seneca/)

> [“Quietism, Buddhism, and other religions, everything which denies the flesh—is the great inferiority to God in ourselves, an escapism seeking sanctuary through fear of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-osman-spare/quietism-buddhism-and-other-religions-everything-which-denies-the/)

[Austin Osman Spare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-osman-spare/)

> [Nothing, to my way of thinking, is a better proof of a well-ordered mind than a man's ability to stop just where he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/nothing-to-my-way-of-thinking-is-a-better-proof-of-a-well-ordered/)

[Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/)

> [“Stoic ethics is a species of eudaimonism. Its central, organizing concern is about what we ought to do or be to live well—to flourish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-c-becker/stoic-ethics-is-a-species-of-eudaimonism-its-central-organizing/)

[Lawrence C. Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-c-becker/)

> [The Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-stoics-say-retire-within-yourselves-it-is-there-you-will-find/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [“Stoicism sure comes in handy when they take away your underpants. But how to reconcile it with one's insatiable need for other people?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piper-kerman/stoicism-sure-comes-in-handy-when-they-take-away-your-underpants-but/)

[Piper Kerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piper-kerman/)

> [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/at-dawn-when-you-have-trouble-getting-out-of-bed-tell-yourself-i-have/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [“You should, I need hardly say, live in such a way that there is nothing which you could not as easily tell your enemy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/you-should-i-need-hardly-say-live-in-such-a-way-that-there-is-nothing/)

[Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/)

> [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/)

[Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/)

## More by Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

> [“Kad god pretrpiš bol, budi spreman nositi se s mišlju kako bol nije moralno zlo i ne šteti tvojoj vladajućoj inteligenciji - bol ne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/kad-god-pretrpi-bol-budi-spreman-nositi-se-s-mi-lju-kako-bol-nije/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“Accustom yourself to Master tilings of the greatest difficulty, and which you seem to despair of. For if you observe, the Left-hand, tho' for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/accustom-yourself-to-master-tilings-of-the-greatest-difficulty-and/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“Ne snatri o posjedovanju onog što nemaš, radije razmišljaju o vrhunskim blagoslovima u onome što posjeduješ i stoga podsjećaj sebe koliko bi ti nedostajali…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/ne-snatri-o-posjedovanju-onog-to-nema-radije-razmi-ljaju-o-vrhunskim/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“Sunce naizgled istječe - njegovo svjetlo širi se u svim pravcima, no bujica nikad ne presuši. Takvo širenje jest linearno; zato se njegovi traci…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/sunce-naizgled-istje-e-njegovo-svjetlo-iri-se-u-svim-pravcima-no/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“Što god itko učini ili kaže, ja moram biti dobar čovjek. Kao da smaragd, ili zlato, ili purpur, neprekidno govore: ''Što god itko učini…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/to-god-itko-u-ini-ili-ka-e-ja-moram-biti-dobar-ovjek-kao-da-smaragd/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“Ako te uvrijedi nečiji manjak stida, moraš odmah upitati sebe: ''Dakle, je li moguće da na svijetu ne bude besramnika?'' Nije moguće. Dakle, ne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/ako-te-uvrijedi-ne-iji-manjak-stida-mora-odmah-upitati-sebe-dakle-je/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“I kakvu si ti to štetu pretrpio? Otkrit ćeš kako nitko od onih koji ti bude gnjev nije učinio ništa čime bi ti pogoršao…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/i-kakvu-si-ti-to-tetu-pretrpio-otkrit-e-kako-nitko-od-onih-koji-ti/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“U svojim napadajima bijesa neka ti je ova misao pri ruci, jer je blagi spokoj daleko ljudskiji i stoga više muževan. Blagi posjeduju snagu,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/u-svojim-napadajima-bijesa-neka-ti-je-ova-misao-pri-ruci-jer-je-blagi/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“Mrk pogled na licu protivan je prirodi, a kad postane uobičajenim, izražajnost počinje umirati ili je već konačno ugasla i ne može je se…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/mrk-pogled-na-licu-protivan-je-prirodi-a-kad-postane-uobi-ajenim-izra/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

> [“Oni ti se ne mogu diviti zbog intelekta. Tomu je tako - no postoje brojne druge značajke, za koje ne možeš reći ''ali to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/oni-ti-se-ne-mogu-diviti-zbog-intelekta-tomu-je-tako-no-postoje/)

[Marcus Aurelius, Meditations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

[Explore all 11 Marcus Aurelius, Meditations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/)

## More Anxiety quotes

> [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/)

[Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/)

> [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/)

[Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/)

> [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/)

[Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/)

> [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/)

[Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/)

> [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/)

[Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/)

> [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/)

[Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/)

> [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/)

[Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/)

> [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/)

[Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/)

[Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Marcus Aurelius, Meditations"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarded-it-because-it-was-within-me/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anxiety"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarded-it-because-it-was-within-me/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/marcus-aurelius-meditations-37_anxiety_today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarde_478464.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/marcus-aurelius-meditations-37_anxiety_today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarde_478464.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/marcus-aurelius-meditations-37_anxiety_today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarde_478464.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions — not outside.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Marcus Aurelius, Meditations",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius-meditations/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarded-it-because-it-was-within-me/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius-meditations/today-i-escaped-anxiety-or-no-i-discarded-it-because-it-was-within-me/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
