Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 7.63 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.63
Every soul, the philosopher says, is involuntarily deprived of truth; consequently in the same way it is deprived of justice and temperance and benevolence and everything of the kind. It is most necessary to bear this constantly in mind, for thus thou wilt be more gentle towards all.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.63, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/7.63
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesNo one chooses to miss the truth, and by the same logic no one chooses to lack fairness, self-control or kindness; they fall short because they cannot see better. Keeping that in mind makes you gentler with everyone.
Older wording
- “involuntarily”
- — against their will, not by choice
- “temperance”
- — self-restraint
- “benevolence”
- — goodwill, kindness
Themes and situations
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Anger
- Judgements and impressions
- Being angry with someone
- Conflict at work
- Family conflict
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