- Theme: peace of mind in everyday life, with a focus on worry, stress, and mental fatigue
- Phrases: 24, including 16 from the team, 2 popular sayings, and 6 by authors in the public domain, with the title and year or century
- Subtopics: a restless mind—which is beyond your control—stormy days, and the end of the day
- When to use: During a break from reading, in a caption, or in a message for anyone who’s feeling overwhelmed
- Who it's for: Anyone who has a lot on their mind and wants a brief respite, with no promise of results
- Do you have any change? Yes, regarding mental health, using the CVV phone number
Almost everyone knows the feeling of reaching the end of the day with your body at rest but your mind still in a meeting. In this scenario, peace of mind rarely comes from a major decision. It usually comes in small moments, like turning off the stove before the kettle boils over.
This list compiles quotes for those moments. Some were written by the team at Mensagens que Inspiram; two are popular sayings; and others come from authors who lived long ago and whose works are now in the public domain: the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher Epictetus, and the American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Each quote includes the author’s work and the year (or century) so you can see where it came from.
There’s no promise of a specific outcome here. A sentence can be a starting point to take a breath, jot down a concern, or turn off the light with a lighter heart. That’s all there is to it, and that’s already enough.
How to Use This List
The quotes are grouped by situation, from the busiest moments of the day to the end of the day. Quotes without an author listed are from the Mensagens que Inspiram team. Popular sayings are labeled as such, and quotes from authors include the title of the work and the year. Since we translated them from the English editions we consulted, they are marked as our own translations.
Marcus Aurelius (121–180) was a Roman emperor and wrote in Greek, for himself, the notebooks known as Meditations (entry for the work on Gracious Quotes, in English). Epictetus (55–135) left no writings of his own: what is known of him comes from lectures recorded by his disciple Arrian (biographical note by George Long, on Project Gutenberg). Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) published the essay Self-Reliance in the book Essays: First Series, in 1841 (Project Gutenberg).
Phrases to Calm a Restless Mind
By the time the body has come to a standstill, but the mind is still open to ten windows. If restlessness comes hand in hand with frequent anxiety, the text when anxiety strikes offers a different perspective.
- Not every thought that comes along needs a chair; some can pass by while standing. Use this when: your head is full of things that nobody scheduled.
- The kettle whistles whenever it wants, but it's up to you to decide whether to keep the burner on.
- There is a brief pause between the shock and the response. That is where calm usually resides. Use this when: a message has annoyed you and you already have a reply ready.
- Pausing doesn't mean giving up on the issue; it means returning to it with a firmer hand.
- Haste makes waste. A popular saying.
- The house gets quieter when your mind stops going over everything that could still go wrong.
Phrases to help you let go of what’s out of your control
In the excerpts from Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius in this section, the concern is linked to what is or is not within each person’s control. They speak of judgments and choices, and are not meant to deny real pain, which deserves care and, at times, professional help. Those who appreciate the Stoic tone will find more in the article at Inspirational quotes by Seneca.
- “When I see an anxious man, I ask myself: What does this man want? If he didn’t want something that was beyond his control, how could he be anxious?” — Epictetus, Speeches (1st–2nd centuries), our translation
- Some worries are tasks, and some are just noise. Only the former have a clear focus.
- “If something external causes you pain, it is not that thing that disturbs you, but your judgment of it. And it is within your power to let go of that judgment right now.” — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book VIII, Section 47 (2nd century), our translation
- Those who wait for everyone's approval spend their lives at the entrance to other people's buildings. Use this when: other people's opinions have become the main focus of your day.
- Letting go isn't the same as abandoning; it's recognizing where your influence ends.
- “It is we ourselves who put ourselves under pressure, who put ourselves in a bind; in other words, it is our opinions that put us under pressure and put us in a bind.” — Epictetus, Speeches (1st–2nd centuries), our translation
- The whole world won't fit on your to-do list; choose the corner within your reach.
Quotes to Help You Get Through Stormy Times
There are tough days, and no one needs to pretend to be in a hurry to feel better. The saying in this section is by an unknown author and appears in dictionaries and collections of proverbs. The quote from Marcus Aurelius comes from Book IV of the Meditations, translated by George Long.
- After the storm comes the calm. A popular saying.
- Tough days are part of the routine, too: tomorrow will come either way, whether we’re ready for it or not.
Sentence 16“Be like the promontory against which the waves break ceaselessly: it stands firm and calms the fury of the water around it.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV, Section 49 (2nd century), our translation
- Not every storm calls for courage; some just call for a dry place and a glass of water.
- If all I managed to do today was make it through the day, that's already a lot of work accomplished. Use this when: you're only halfway through the list and the blame is already coming your way.
Quotes to help you find inner peace and end the day
The first two sentences of this section are from ancient authors. The one by Marcus Aurelius is found in Book IV, Section 3, and refers to a retreat that does not require travel. The one by Emerson concludes the essay Self-Reliance, right after he lists favorable events, such as a political victory or the return of a friend, and points out that they do not bring peace. For the final part of the day, the text Serenity for a perfect end to the day It continues in the same vein.
Sentence 19“Men seek retreats for themselves: country homes, beaches, mountains (…). For nowhere does a man find greater peace or greater freedom from afflictions than within his own soul.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book IV, Section 3 (2nd century), our translation
Sentence 20“Nothing can bring you peace except yourself. Nothing can bring you peace except the triumph of principles.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance, in Essays: First Series (1841), our translation
- Even small acts of gratitude bring joy: warm bread, a brief conversation, the bus that arrived right on time.
- Peace of mind usually comes without fanfare, like clothes drying on the clothesline. Use this when: you've had a busy day and nothing special happened.
- Turn off the light in the room—and with it, the meeting your mind is still trying to schedule.
- At the end of the day, confide in your pillow what didn't fit into your schedule.
Where to Start
| Situation | Phrases to Look at First | Predominant type |
|---|---|---|
| Overactive Mind | 1 through 6 | Team and popular saying |
| Worrying about things you can't control | 7 to 13 | Team and Past Authors |
| A tough day or week | 14 to 18 | Proverb, team, and Marco Aurélio |
| Late afternoon or evening | 19 to 24 | Past Authors and Staff |
See also: Peace and Serenity for Your Day
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "peace of mind" mean?
In this article, the expression describes the state of someone who manages to keep a cool head even when there are unresolved issues. It is an everyday expression, not a clinical term.
Is the quote about having power over the mind really by Marcus Aurelius?
According to a citation check, it does not appear in any known translation of the Meditations. The most relevant ideas can be found in Books IV and VIII, cited above.
Can I use these phrases in captions and images?
Quotes from the team and those by authors in the public domain may be shared with credit to “Messages That Inspire.” We make no promises regarding commercial use.
Do affirmations help when anxiety is intense?
They can provide some relief, but they are no substitute for professional care. If the burden is too great, the CVV can be reached at 188, 24 hours a day, free of charge.
How do you choose a quote for the occasion?
Start with the group that most closely resembles your day: a restless mind, worrying about things beyond your control, stormy days, or the end of the day. The table above shows you where to start.
- Phrases: Quotes without a specified author are from the team; the others include the author, title, and year or century in the list itself, and the works are listed below.
- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Books IV and VIII, translated by George Long: text available at the MIT Internet Classics Archive (source in English, no link provided; accessed October 21, 2026).
- Epictetus, A Selection from the Discourses of Epictetus, Including the *Encheiridion*, translated by George Long: Project Gutenberg, edition 10661 (source in English, no link; accessed October 21, 2026).
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays: First Series (1841): Project Gutenberg, edition 2944 (source in English, no link; accessed October 21, 2026).
- Gracious Quotes, Meditations Quotes, Verified Against the Book: citation verification (source in English, no link; accessed on October 21, 2026).
- Dicio: meaning of "storm" e Most Common Sayings in Brazil, for both sayings (accessed on October 21, 2026).
- CVV: Center for the Value of Life, by calling 188 (accessed on October 21, 2026).
Notice: This content is intended to be inspirational and informative and is not a substitute for guidance from a healthcare, mental health, or financial professional. If you are in distress, call the CVV at 188. Quotes without a specified author are from the Mensagens que Inspiram team; those attributed to authors include the title and year or century and are from works in the public domain. Illustrative images, when created by artificial intelligence, do not depict real people.
