Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 4.20 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.20
Everything which is in any way beautiful is beautiful in itself, and terminates in itself, not having praise as part of itself. Neither worse then nor better is a thing made by being praised. I affirm this also of the things which are called beautiful by the vulgar, for example, material things and works of art. That which is really beautiful has no need of anything; not more than law, not more than truth, not more than benevolence or modesty. Which of these things is beautiful because it is praised, or spoiled by being blamed? Is such a thing as an emerald made worse than it was, if it is not praised? Or gold, ivory, purple, a lyre, a little knife, a flower, a shrub?
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.20, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/4.20
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesReal value does not depend on praise: something good is no better for being admired and no worse for being criticised, just as an emerald or a flower is unchanged by opinion. Law, truth, kindness and modesty are valuable in themselves, so do not measure yourself by applause or blame.
Older wording
- “the vulgar”
- — ordinary people, the crowd
- “purple”
- — costly purple-dyed cloth, a sign of wealth
Themes and situations
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Judgements and impressions
- Virtue and character
- Pride and humility
- Being criticised or insulted
- Handling success
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