Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 5.17 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.17
To seek what is impossible is madness: and it is impossible that the bad should not do something of this kind.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.17, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/5.17
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIt is foolish to demand that bad people stop behaving badly. Expect some wrongdoing from people who lack good judgement and you will be far less shocked and angry when it arrives.
Themes and situations
- Anger
- Acceptance and fate
- Preparing for difficulty
- Judgements and impressions
- Being angry with someone
- Betrayal
- Conflict at work
- Being treated unfairly
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