Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 7.62 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.62
Constantly observe who those are whose approbation thou wishest to have, and what ruling principles they possess. For then thou wilt neither blame those who offend involuntarily, nor wilt thou want their approbation, if thou lookest to the sources of their opinions and appetites.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.62, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/7.62
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesLook at whose approval you crave and what principles govern them. Once you see where their opinions and desires come from, you will neither blame them for their mistakes nor need their approval.
Older wording
- “approbation”
- — approval
- “ruling principles”
- — the core beliefs that govern someone's behaviour
Themes and situations
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Judgements and impressions
- Anger
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Being criticised or insulted
- A difficult boss
- Being angry with someone
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