The Inner Citadel

Marcus Aurelius speaks of an "Inner Citadel"—a core of our being that no external force can touch. This is our ruling faculty, our reason.

We build this citadel not by stone, but by correct judgments. If we judge that nothing external is truly good or bad, but only our own character is, then we are safe. No one can force us to do evil or preventing us from acting virtuously.