Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 9.15 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 9.15
Things stand outside of us, themselves by themselves, neither knowing aught of themselves, nor expressing any judgement. What is it, then, which does judge about them? The ruling faculty.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 9.15, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/9.15
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesEvents and objects just sit there and have no opinion about themselves. The only thing that labels them good or bad is your own reasoning mind, so the verdict, and the upset that follows from it, is yours to change.
Older wording
- “ruling faculty”
- — your reasoning mind
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- What is in our control
- Emotions and the passions
- Anxiety about the future
- Everyday irritations
- Being criticised or insulted
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