Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 11.25 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.25
Socrates excused himself to Perdiccas for not going to him, saying, It is because I would not perish by the worst of all ends, that is, I would not receive a favour and then be unable to return it.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.25, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/11.25
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesA famous philosopher once declined an invitation from a powerful king because he feared the worst fate of all: accepting a favour and then being unable to repay it. Be careful about putting yourself in debt to people whose generosity you cannot match.
Older wording
- “Perdiccas”
- — a king of Macedon who invited Socrates to his court
Themes and situations
- Gratitude
- Pride and humility
- Friendship
- Wealth and poverty
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