Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 1.10 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 1.10
From Alexander the grammarian, to refrain from faultfinding, and not in a reproachful way to chide those who uttered any barbarous or solecistic or strange-sounding expression; but dexterously to introduce the very expression which ought to have been used, and in the way of answer or giving confirmation, or joining in an inquiry about the thing itself, not about the word, or by some other fit suggestion.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 1.10, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/1.10
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesRather than scolding someone for a mistake in language, a teacher modelled correcting them gently by simply using the right form in his reply or by steering the talk to the subject itself. A good template for correcting people without shaming them.
Older wording
- “solecistic”
- — grammatically incorrect
- “barbarous”
- — badly formed or foreign-sounding
- “dexterously”
- — skilfully, tactfully
Themes and situations
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Speech and silence
- Pride and humility
- Conflict at work
- Leading others
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