Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 11.23 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.23
Socrates used to call the opinions of the many by the name of Lamiæ, bugbears to frighten children.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.23, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/11.23
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesThe opinions of the crowd are like bogeymen used to scare children: they are frightening only if you believe in them. Do not let what the many think intimidate you.
Older wording
- “Lamiæ”
- — child-eating monsters of Greek folklore
- “bugbears”
- — imaginary things used to frighten children
Themes and situations
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Fear and anxiety
- Judgements and impressions
- Being criticised or insulted
- Nerves before a big moment
- Fear of failure
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