Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Remember that all is but opinion and…
Remember that all is but opinion and conceit, for those things are plain and apparent, which were spoken unto Monimus the Cynic; and as plain and apparent is the use that may be made of those things, if that which is true and serious in them, be received as well as that which is sweet and pleasing.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Much of what disturbs you is not the event itself but the story your mind adds to it. A delayed reply becomes rejection. A critical look becomes contempt. A difficult assignment becomes proof that you are failing. Marcus calls these judgments opinions, not facts, because they can be examined and revised. This is not a command to deny reality or manufacture cheerful thoughts. If the bill is due, it is due. If someone behaved badly, address it. But do not treat your first interpretation as a verdict. Separate observation from commentary: "They have not replied for two days" is different from "They do not respect me." That pause makes room for better action. Today, write down one upsetting thought and divide it into facts and assumptions. Keep the facts, challenge the assumptions, and choose your next step from what you can actually know.
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