They don't know. You understand that, right? They're not aware that they've fallen for a scam. They don't know they've been taken down a rabbit hole. They don't realize that things are more complicated than they think, that there's information they haven't seen, that their perspective is being warped.
In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius—no doubt exposed to the same ignorant or frustrating or strange people that exist today—tries to remind himself (by quoting Plato) that "against their will their souls are cut off from truth." This is why people do things that are unkind or stupid or against their self-interest: Because it doesn't seem that way to them.
No, they're in the sway of a demagogue. They are limited by their education. They haven't, as the famous opening line from The Great Gatsby (there's a great new 100-Year Anniversary edition, available here) reminds us, "had the advantages that you've had." This is not without its consequences—to you or to society—but it doesn't change the fact that these people are also victims, that they are not this way on purpose. And when you keep this in mind, Marcus Aurelius says, "it will make you more patient with other people."
Besides, haven't you been wrong before? Haven't you done stuff that in retrospect seems dumb or weird? Of course you have. But you didn't think that at the time! And guess what else? People were largely patient with you…and you were afforded a certain amount of grace (or you wouldn't have gotten to where you are now). So let's extend that same patience and empathy to others. It's only fair.
P.S. To help remind you of these important truths and hard-earned wisdom, we've taken our favorite translation of Meditations (by Gregory Hays) and created an exclusive leatherbound edition. Check it out here.
If you're serious about putting Stoicism into practice in your everyday life—if you want to actually live the values of courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom—Meditations is your playbook. It's a life-changing read, and when you go back to it at different stages in your life, you're going to pull from it newly resonant passages every time.
That's why we wanted to create this special edition, meant to be read and reread for years, with premium-weight paper, illustrations, and a ribbon to keep your place or mark your favorite passage. Keep it on your desk, on your nightstand, or in a prominent place on your bookshelf. Keep reading the wisdom of one of the most powerful men in human history and let those words inspire you. Let them keep you in the practice of virtue. Let them improve your perspective, your focus, and your life, as they have my own and so many others.' We need these words now more than ever.
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