Marcus Aurelius · 121–180 CE
Meditations 8.17 — Marcus Aurelius
Translation by George Long (1862)
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 8.17
If a thing is in thy own power, why dost thou do it? But if it is in the power of another, whom dost thou blame? The atoms [chance] or the gods? Both are foolish. Thou must blame nobody. For if thou canst, correct that which is the cause; but if thou canst not do this, correct at least the thing itself; but if thou canst not do even this, of what use is it to thee to find fault? For nothing should be done without a purpose.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 8.17, tr. George Long (1862)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/meditations/8.17
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, tr. George Long (1862). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesIf you could have avoided something, do not do it; if it is in someone else's power, blame is pointless, whether aimed at chance or the gods. Fix the cause if you can, fix the problem itself if you cannot, and if neither is possible, complaining accomplishes nothing.
Older wording
- “atoms”
- — random chance (the idea that the world is only atoms moving blindly)
Themes and situations
- What is in our control
- Anger
- Acceptance and fate
- Failure and mistakes
- Conflict at work
- Being angry with someone
Quote cards
The opening line of this passage as an image, with its citation — for sharing or keeping.