Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 12.16 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 12.16
When a man has presented the appearance of having done wrong, say, How then do I know if this is a wrongful act? And even if he has done wrong, how do I know that he has not condemned himself? and so this is like tearing his own face. Consider that he, who would not have the bad man do wrong, is like the man who would not have the fig-tree to bear juice in the figs and infants to cry and the horse to neigh, and whatever else must of necessity be. For what must a man do who has such a character? If then thou art irritable, cure this man’s disposition.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 12.16, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/12.16
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesBefore getting angry at someone's apparent wrongdoing, ask whether it was really wrong, and remember that a wrongdoer already harms himself. Wishing bad people would not act badly is as pointless as wishing figs had no juice or babies never cried, since it is in their nature. If you are the irritable one, work on fixing your own temper.
Older wording
- “irritable”
- — quick to get angry or annoyed
Themes and situations
- Anger
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Judgements and impressions
- Justice and fairness
- Acceptance and fate
- Being angry with someone
- Conflict at work
- Family conflict
- Betrayal
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