Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: When at any time thou art offended with…
When at any time thou art offended with any one's impudency, put presently this question to thyself: 'What? Is it then possible, that there should not be any impudent men in the world! Certainly it is not possible.' Desire not then that which is impossible.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
Some people will be rude. They will interrupt, posture, lie, take credit, and behave as though the world owes them an apology. This is not a revelation. It is part of the price of living among other human beings. Yet each time it happens, we act surprised—as if the universe has broken an agreement with us. Marcus asks us to notice the hidden demand beneath our outrage: that nobody should ever be shameless. But that demand cannot be met. You do not need to approve of bad behavior or let it go unaddressed. You can set a boundary, correct the record, or leave the room. Just do not add a second injury by expecting an impossible world. Today, when someone acts exactly as flawed people sometimes act, skip the shock. Deal with what is in front of you calmly.
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