Previous Stoicism

A PRODUCTIVE USE FOR CONTEMPT

Just as when meat or other foods are set before us we think, this is a dead fish, a dead bird or pig; and also, this fine wine is only the juice of a bunch of grapes, this purple-edged robe just sheep’s wool dyed in a bit of blood from a shellfish; or of sex, that it is only rubbing private parts together followed by a spasmic discharge—in the same way our impressions grab actual events and permeate them, so we see them as they really are.

- MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS

Summary:
Marcus Aurelius encourages us to strip away the glamour or emotional pull from things we often desire or admire. By viewing them in their raw, physical form—without embellishment—we see them for what they truly are, rather than what we’re conditioned to believe they are.

Interpretation:
In daily life, this might mean reminding yourself that expensive clothes are just fabric, or that praise is just someone’s opinion. It’s not about being cynical, but about using a kind of healthy contempt to resist being manipulated by appearances, status, or fleeting pleasures. When we look at things plainly—without fantasy or exaggeration—we can make more grounded decisions, value what truly matters, and avoid being ruled by impulse or illusion.

 

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