Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: If thou canst but withdraw conceit and…
If thou canst but withdraw conceit and opinion concerning that which may seem hurtful and offensive, thou thyself art as safe, as safe may be. Thou thyself? and who is that? Thy reason. 'Yea, but I am not reason.' Well, be it so. However, let not thy reason or understanding admit of grief, and if there be anything in thee that is grieved, let that, (whatsoever it be,) conceive its own grief, if it can.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Events can touch the body, disrupt plans, and stir emotion. They do not automatically gain access to your deepest judgment. Someone can insult you; that is their action. The next thought—“I have been diminished”—is an interpretation you can examine. Marcus is not denying that we have feelings. He is reminding us that our reasoning faculty does not have to endorse every feeling as a verdict. This matters when an awkward interaction keeps replaying in your head or a setback becomes proof that you are failing. Separate the occurrence from the meaning you assigned to it. What exactly happened? What is within your control now? You may still feel hurt, but you do not need to build a home inside the hurt. Today, when something stings, protect your judgment first. Let the emotion pass through without turning it into your identity.
Related passages
- Marcus Aurelius In another man's mind and understanding thy evil Cannot subsist, nor in any proper temper or distemper of the natural…
- Seneca Nature demands from us a certain amount of grief, our imagination adds some more to it; but I will never forbid you to…
- Marcus Aurelius Accept then, and be pleased with whatsoever doth happen, though otherwise harsh and un-pleasing, as tending to that…