Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 7.36–37 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.36–37
From Antisthenes: It is royal to do good and to be abused. It is a base thing for the countenance to be obedient and to regulate and compose itself as the mind commands, and for the mind not to be regulated and composed by itself.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.36–37, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/7.36-37
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIt is kingly to do good and be treated badly for it. And it is shameful that your face obeys your mind's orders and composes itself while your mind cannot compose and govern itself.
Older wording
- “countenance”
- — face or expression
- “base”
- — shameful, low
Themes and situations
- Insult and criticism
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Virtue and character
- Self-discipline and habit
- Being criticised or insulted
- Being treated unfairly
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