Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: What art and profession soever thou…
What art and profession soever thou hast learned, endeavour to affect it, and comfort thyself in it; and pass the remainder of thy life as one who from his whole heart commits himself and whatsoever belongs unto him, unto the gods: and as for men, carry not thyself either tyrannically or servilely towards any.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Do your work with care, take reasonable pride in your craft, and do not turn either success or insecurity into domination. Marcus’s standard is balanced: commit your effort to something larger than your ego, while dealing with people neither as a tyrant nor as a servant. At work, that means you do not need to bully others to prove authority, and you do not need to erase yourself to earn belonging. Bring competence, directness, and respect. Let your profession be one place where character becomes visible. You cannot control every outcome, but you can control whether you prepare, improve, and treat collaborators fairly. Today, give one task the attention of a craftsperson. Then notice one interaction where you can be firm without being harsh, or helpful without becoming submissive.
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