Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 6.6 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 6.6
The best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrong doer.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 6.6, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/6.6
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesThe best revenge is refusing to become the kind of person who hurt you. Answering cruelty with cruelty makes you the same as the wrongdoer, while staying decent keeps you better than them.
Themes and situations
- Anger
- Justice and fairness
- Virtue and character
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Betrayal
- Being treated unfairly
- Being angry with someone
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