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Marcus Aurelius · Meditations II.1

Whoever wrongs me shares the same intelligence, the same portion of divinity. No one can fix what is ugly on me. I cannot be harmed by my kin, and I cannot hate them.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (Meditations II.1)

What this means

Marcus opens his day by reminding himself that whoever wrongs him shares the same reason and the same nature. Another's fault cannot make him uglier unless he lets it provoke ugliness in return. Seen this way, kinship makes hatred not just wrong but impossible.

On people, judgment, nature.

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Meditations

Marcus Aurelius · trans. Gregory Hays · Modern Library

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