Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 5.22 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.22
That which does no harm to the state, does no harm to the citizen. In the case of every appearance of harm apply this rule: if the state is not harmed by this, neither am I harmed. But if the state is harmed, thou must not be angry with him who does harm to the state. Show him where his error is.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.22, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/5.22
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIf something does not damage the community you belong to, it cannot truly damage you. And when someone does harm the community, anger is the wrong response: calmly show them where they have gone wrong.
Themes and situations
- Anger
- Community and our duty to others
- Justice and fairness
- Kindness and forgiveness
- Being angry with someone
- Being treated unfairly
- Conflict at work
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