Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 12.27 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 12.27
Constantly bring to thy recollection those who have complained greatly about anything, those who have been most conspicuous by the greatest fame or misfortunes or enmities or fortunes of any kind: then think where are they all now? Smoke and ash and a tale, or not even a tale. And let there be present to thy mind also everything of this sort, how Fabius Catullinus lived in the country, and Lucius Lupus in his gardens, and Stertinius at Baiæ, and Tiberius at Capreæ and Velius Rufus [or Rufus at Velia]; and in fine think of the eager pursuit of anything conjoined with pride; and how worthless everything is after which men violently strain; and how much more philosophical it is for a man in the opportunities presented to him to show himself just, temperate, obedient to the gods, and to do this with all simplicity: for the pride which is proud of its want of pride is the most intolerable of all.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 12.27, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/12.27
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesThink of everyone who once raged over their troubles or was famous for wealth, victories or feuds, and ask where they are now: smoke, ash and a fading story. Frantic striving for status is worthless, so use whatever chances arise to be fair, self-controlled and reverent, simply and without showing off, since being proud of your own humility is the worst pride of all.
Older wording
- “temperate”
- — self-restrained and moderate
Themes and situations
- Change and impermanence
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Pride and humility
- Death and mortality
- Ambition and success
- Handling success
- Envy and comparison
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