Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 3.9 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.9
Reverence the faculty which produces opinion. On this faculty it entirely depends whether there shall exist in thy ruling part any opinion inconsistent with nature and the constitution of the rational animal. And this faculty promises freedom from hasty judgement, and friendship towards men, and obedience to the gods.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.9, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/3.9
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesTreat your power of forming opinions with respect, because it decides whether your mind holds views that go against human nature. Used well, it spares you hasty judgements and makes you friendly toward other people.
Older wording
- “ruling part”
- — your reasoning mind
- “constitution of the rational animal”
- — human nature
Themes and situations
- Judgements and impressions
- What is in our control
- Virtue and character
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