Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Of Fronto, to how much envy and fraud…
Of Fronto, to how much envy and fraud and hypocrisy the state of a tyrannous king is subject unto, and how they who are commonly called εὐπατρίδαι, i.e. nobly born, are in some sort incapable, or void of natural affection.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Power attracts flattery, secrecy, envy, and people who learn to perform loyalty while pursuing their own advantage. Marcus was warned that privilege can also make people emotionally detached from ordinary human concerns. You do not need to run an empire to recognize this. It can happen in a leadership role, a fast-growing company, a wealthy family, or any group where status matters more than honesty. The closer you get to influence, the more you need people who can tell you the truth without fear. Keep contact with people who are not impressed by your title. Pay attention to how decisions affect those with less voice, not just those seated near you. And be wary of anyone whose agreement is too effortless. Today, invite candid feedback from someone who has reason to be honest, then listen without explaining yourself away.
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