--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The rottenness of the matter which is the…" description: "\"The rottenness of the matter which is the foundation of everything!\" — Marcus Aurelius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/marcus-aurelius-139_foundation_the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-th_1746768.jpg" --- # The rottenness of the matter which is the foundation of… ![“The rottenness of the matter which is the foundation of everything!” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/marcus-aurelius-139_foundation_the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-th_1746768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/marcus-aurelius-139_foundation_the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-th_1746768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/marcus-aurelius-139_foundation_the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-th_1746768.jpg) > “The rottenness of the matter which is the foundation of everything!” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The underlying corruption of fundamental principles undermines all that is built upon them. **In simple terms:** Bad foundations cause everything to rot. Key Takeaway Examine and strengthen core values. Themes philosophy ethics integrity Mood reflective serious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - personal development - organizational leadership - policy making Key Concepts Stoicism foundational analysis Questions to Reflect On - What core beliefs do you rely on? - How can you test their robustness? A Different Perspective Even with good foundations, external forces can cause decay. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-foundation-1568398/) [Rottenness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rottenness-888127/) [Rottenness Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rottenness-matter-1568397/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [If labor mainly, or to any considerable degree, serves the purpose of a police, to keep men out of mischief, it indicates a rottenness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-labor-mainly-or-to-any-considerable-degree-serves-the-purpose-of-a/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Hopes have precarious life. 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But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. 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I think it is important that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-was-raised-playing-music-in-coffeehouses-and-i-feel-that-was-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The foundation of the Christian's peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-foundation-of-the-christian-s-peace-is-everlasting-it-is-what-no/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/butter-cream-and-bacon-that-s-such-a-great-foundation-right-there/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [God established the family as the foundation of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/god-established-the-family-as-the-foundation-of-civilization/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Coral reefs represent some of the worlds most spectacular beauty spots, but they are also the foundation of marine life: without them many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheherazade-goldsmith/coral-reefs-represent-some-of-the-worlds-most-spectacular-beauty/) [Sheherazade Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheherazade-goldsmith/) [Browse all 3,310 Foundation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The rottenness of the matter which is the foundation of everything!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Aurelius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-the-foundation-of-everything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foundation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-the-foundation-of-everything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/marcus-aurelius-139_foundation_the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-th_1746768.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/marcus-aurelius-139_foundation_the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-th_1746768.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a9/marcus-aurelius-139_foundation_the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-th_1746768.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The rottenness of the matter which is the foundation of everything!” — Marcus Aurelius", "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", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The rottenness of the matter which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-the-foundation-of-everything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-rottenness-of-the-matter-which-is-the-foundation-of-everything/#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 } } ] } ```