Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Do nothing against thy will, nor…
Do nothing against thy will, nor contrary to the community, nor without due examination, nor with reluctancy. Affect not to set out thy thoughts with curious neat language. Be neither a great talker, nor a great undertaker.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Live deliberately, cooperatively, and with enough self-scrutiny to know why you are acting. Marcus warns against acting against your conscience, against the common good, without examination, or with inward resistance. He also warns against showy language, endless talking, and taking on more than you can carry. These are practical checks for a crowded life. Before agreeing to a project, ask whether you can do it well and whether it serves something beyond your ego. Before speaking, ask whether your words clarify or merely display intelligence. Before resisting a necessary task, ask whether the resistance is useful information or just reluctance. You do not need to narrate every intention or volunteer for every opportunity. Today, make one decision more cleanly: say no to an unnecessary commitment, state your point in plain language, or finish the obligation you have been grumbling about without spreading that mood to others.
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