Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 8.14 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 8.14
Whatever man thou meetest with, immediately say to thyself: What opinions has this man about good and bad? For if with respect to pleasure and pain and the causes of each, and with respect to fame and ignominy, death and life, he has such and such opinions, it will seem nothing wonderful or strange to me, if he does such and such things; and I shall bear in mind that he is compelled to do so.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 8.14, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/8.14
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWith anyone you deal with, first ask what they believe is good and bad about pleasure, pain, fame, shame, life and death. Once you know their beliefs, their behaviour stops being shocking, because their values leave them little choice.
Older wording
- “ignominy”
- — public shame or disgrace
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- Anger
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Being angry with someone
- Conflict at work
- A difficult boss
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