Marcus Aurelius: Hath not yet experience taught thee to…

We take great care to avoid physical contagion, and rightly so. But Marcus says there is another infection that deserves equal vigilance: a corrupted mind. Cynicism, greed, cruelty, dishonesty, and mindless outrage spread through groups just as readily as a virus. Spend enough time around them and they can start to feel normal. The danger is not only what they do to others; it is what they make us capable of doing ourselves. This is why your inputs matter—the conversations you join, the media you consume, the people whose approval you seek. Protecting your character is not self-righteousness. It is basic hygiene for a rational, social being. Today, notice one influence that regularly leaves you more angry, envious, or careless. Create some distance from it, and replace it with something that strengthens judgment and goodwill.