Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: To righteousness, in speaking the truth…
To righteousness, in speaking the truth freely, and without ambiguity; and in doing all things justly and discreetly. Now in this good course, let not other men's either wickedness, or opinion, or voice hinder thee: no, nor the sense of this thy pampered mass of flesh: for let that which suffers, look to itself.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Tell the truth plainly. Do what is fair. Let neither bad people nor loud people knock you off that course. Marcus is describing a form of independence that matters more than toughness: the ability to keep your judgment when the room is pressuring you to abandon it. Your body may be tired, uncomfortable, or afraid. Other people may mock you, threaten your status, or invite you into their dishonesty. Those conditions deserve practical care, but they do not get to dictate your character. There is a difference between acknowledging discomfort and allowing it to become your commander. In the next hard conversation, say what is true without cruelty or evasiveness. In the next decision, do not confuse convenience with justice. Your task is not to control the noise around you. It is to remain a person whose actions can withstand it.
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