Marcus Aurelius Meditations
Marcus Aurelius: Whether thou speak in the Senate or…
Whether thou speak in the Senate or whether thou speak to any particular, let thy speech In always grave and modest. But thou must not openly and vulgarly observe that sound and exact form of speaking, concerning that which is truly good and truly civil; the vanity of the world, and of worldly men: which otherwise truth and reason doth prescribe.
The passage follows a public-domain translation of Meditations. The reading beside it is ours.
We do not need to turn every conversation into a performance of seriousness. Marcus advises gravity and modesty: speak clearly, tell the truth, and do not make a spectacle of your own wisdom. That is good advice in a meeting, on social media, and at the dinner table. The urge to sound clever can easily replace the harder work of being helpful. We can correct someone without humiliating them. We can hold a strong view without treating everyone else as inferior. We can decline gossip without announcing our purity. Real principles are usually quieter than performative ones. Let your words be proportionate to the moment and aimed at the good of the people hearing them. Before you speak today, ask: am I trying to contribute, or am I trying to win attention? Choose the sentence that serves the situation.
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