WHAT is it to be reviled, for instance? Stand by a stone and revile it; and what will you get? If you, therefore, would hear like a stone, what would your reviler be the better? But if the reviler hath the weakness of the reviled for an advantage ground, then he carries his point. "Strip him." — "What do you mean by him?" "Take my clothes; strip off them if you will." I have put an affront upon you." — "Much good may it do you."
EPICTETUS. DISCOURSES. Book i. §25. ¶3
WHAT is it then that should be dear unto us ? to hear a clattering noise? if not that, then neither to be applauded by the tongues of men. For the praises of many tongues, is in effect no better, than the clattering of so many tongues. If then neither applause, what is there remaining that should be dear unto thee? This I think: that in all thy motions and actions thou be moved, and restrained according to thine own true natural constitution and construction only.
MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book vi. 15.
Only if you value a person's opinion of you will their comments regarding you have any weight. They cannot effect your deepest self.
ReplyDeleteTo thine own self be true. Do not be moved by gossip and comments either good or bad but remain strong in your own knowledge of self and your true nature.
Mark 10:18 - Why do you call me good?
ReplyDeleteBoth reviling and praise are cast away here as being completely superfluous. The only guiding principle is the fulfilling of one's own nature. This may be like Maslow's Self-Actualization.
It never fails to amaze me when I have the following conversation with a friend of mine:
ReplyDeleteFriend: "So and so is saying such and such about me, but they're an a$$hole anyway. But oh my goodness, what am I going to do? I can't believe they said....."
Me: "If they are an a$$hole, then why are you concerned with it?"
Friend: "hmmm....."
It's just so fascinating that our culture values the opinions of people we don't have any connection to. Look at 'what not to wear', 'american idol', 'america's got talent', etc, etc, etc. it's all based on the premise that we should be concerned about what strangers think of us.
Good selection.
Until I see Who I am, my self-image is built upon what is currently approved in society. But when I see Who I really, really am, I become - in a certain sense - more individuated, free from what others say I am.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely put Steven.
DeleteVery nicely put Steven.
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