Opinion and compulsion

"Whatever man thou meetest with, immediately say to thyself: What opinions has this man about good and bad? For if with respect to pleasure and pain and the causes of each, and with respect to fame and ignominy, death and life, he has such and such opinions, it will seem nothing wonderful or strange to me, if he does such and such things, and I shall bear in mind that he is compelled to do so." Marcus Aurelius.  Meditations. Book 8.


Image: Orientalist scene with Nubian jugglers at the court by Ettore Forti (1880-1920) (PD)

 

Comments