Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 5.3 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.3
Judge every word and deed which are according to nature to be fit for thee; and be not diverted by the blame which follows from any people nor by their words, but if a thing is good to be done or said, do not consider it unworthy of thee. For those persons have their peculiar leading principle and follow their peculiar movement; which things do not thou regard, but go straight on, following thy own nature and the common nature; and the way of both is one.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.3, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/5.3
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIf something is good to say or do, do not consider it beneath you, and do not be diverted by other people's blame or words. They follow their own guiding principle and impulses, while you go straight ahead following your own nature and the shared nature of humanity.
Older wording
- “leading principle”
- — a person's guiding beliefs
- “common nature”
- — the nature shared by all people
Themes and situations
- Reputation and others' opinions
- Insult and criticism
- Virtue and character
- What is in our control
- Courage
- Being criticised or insulted
- An ethical dilemma
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