Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 5.18 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.18
Nothing happens to any man which he is not formed by nature to bear. The same things happen to another, and either because he does not see that they have happened or because he would show a great spirit he is firm and remains unharmed. It is a shame then that ignorance and conceit should be stronger than wisdom.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.18, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/5.18
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesWhatever happens to you, you are built to handle it, as shown by others who go through the very same thing and come out unharmed, either because they do not notice or because they hold firm. It would be a shame if ignorance or bravado turned out tougher than someone who actually understands.
Older wording
- “conceit”
- — an inflated opinion of oneself
Themes and situations
- Resilience and endurance
- Adversity and hardship
- Acceptance and fate
- Courage
- Anxiety about the future
- Losing a job
- Bereavement
- Illness or diagnosis
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