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Quote of the Day — Marcus Aurelius

June 23, 2026

The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are. — Marcus Aurelius

121–180

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Marcus Aurelius

121–180

Marcus Aurelius (121-180) was a Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher whose personal writings, known as “Meditations,” remain among history’s most influential philosophical texts. Despite wielding supreme imperial power, Marcus Aurelius maintained a humble philosophical disposition, constantly examining his own character and striving for virtue. His personal reflections—never intended for publication—reveal a mind grappling with duty, mortality, mortality’s insignificance, and the proper use of reason to live virtuously amid life’s chaos. As emperor during plague, war, and political upheaval, Marcus Aurelius modeled philosophical composure and commitment to doing his duty regardless of circumstances. Marcus Aurelius’s philosophy emphasizes personal virtue, the limits…

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From the Show

Kim Monson opened with this counsel from Marcus Aurelius as she weighed reports of outside money flooding Colorado’s Republican primaries. His call to face things as they are set the tone for the June 23, 2026 broadcast, which ranged from school choice to a Colorado Boulevard bus plan.

From the Same Day

June 23, 2026

Word of the Day

Assiduous

An adjective meaning showing persistent attention or untiring application; diligent.

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Today’s Episode

Salvage Yard Fires, a Colorado Boulevard Bus Plan, and Dark Money in the Primaries

Kim Monson with Lauren Fix on salvage yards and mobility, Dana Busch on a Colorado Boulevard bus plan, and Priscilla Rahn on school choice. June…

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