Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: The most weighty and serious, if…
The most weighty and serious, if rightly esteemed, but as puppies, biting one another: or untoward children, now laughing and then crying. As for faith, and modesty, and justice, and truth, they long since, as one of the poets hath it, have abandoned this spacious earth, and retired themselves unto heaven.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Many of the things people treat as deadly serious are often childish contests for attention, status, and victory. Adults can fight over praise, parking spaces, social media posts, and minor slights with the intensity of children arguing over toys. Seeing this clearly can keep you from joining the game.
Marcus is not saying justice and truth do not matter. He is mourning how easily they are abandoned when vanity takes over. The answer is not cynicism. It is to become one of the people who still values good faith, modesty, fairness, and honesty even when those qualities are unfashionable.
Before you enter the next argument, ask: Is this a real matter of principle, or am I trying to win a childish contest? If it is serious, act with integrity. If it is trivial, do not lend it your dignity. Today, save your energy for what deserves it.
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