Marcus Aurelius - Meditations book 6.21
\"If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change. It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.\"
Marcus Aurelius wasn’t interested in being “right”—he was interested in being truthful.
In this passage, he invites correction, not as a sign of weakness, but as a sign of strength.
The Stoic understands that clinging to a false view just to protect the ego causes more harm than admitting a mistake ever could.
This isn’t about being passive or unsure—it’s about being honest enough to revise your thinking when new evidence arises. That kind of integrity builds character. Self-deceit might feel comfortable in the moment, but it clouds judgment and distorts our relationship with reality.
To change your mind when truth demands it—that’s not defeat. That’s wisdom.
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