Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Let us do our best endeavours to…
Let us do our best endeavours to persuade them; but however, if reason and justice lead thee to it, do it, though they be never so much against it.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Reasonable people try to persuade. They explain, listen, negotiate, and give others a chance to see what is right. But persuasion has a boundary. If the right action depends on everyone approving of it, you will often fail to act at all. Marcus is not endorsing arrogance or unilateral behavior for its own sake. He is saying that justice cannot be outsourced to a vote of your friends, coworkers, or followers. You may need to report misconduct nobody wants to discuss. You may need to set a boundary that disappoints someone. You may need to decline a profitable but dishonest opportunity. Make your case fairly. Remain open to being corrected. But when reason and justice are clear, do not let opposition become an alibi for cowardice. Today, distinguish between feedback worth considering and approval you are merely craving.
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