Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Remember, that to change thy mind upon…
Remember, that to change thy mind upon occasion, and to follow him that is able to rectify thee, is equally ingenuous, as to find out at the first, what is right and just, without help. For of thee nothing is required, ti, is beyond the extent of thine own deliberation and jun. merit, and of thine own understanding.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Changing your mind when better evidence appears is not weakness. It is one of the clearest signs that you care more about truth than about looking consistent. We often cling to a bad decision because we made it publicly, defended it loudly, or spent too much time on it already. Pride turns correction into humiliation. Marcus rejects that view. If someone can show you a fairer, wiser, or more accurate path, following it is progress. You are not required to know everything at the beginning. You are required to use your judgment honestly as new information arrives. This matters at work, in relationships, and in the beliefs we inherit. Listen to the person who corrects you without turning the moment into a contest. Today, notice where you are defending a position mainly because it is yours. Ask what you would choose if no one had to know you changed your mind.
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