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rebbel's avatar

Can you maybe explain what the following quote from Marcus Aurelius exactly means?

Asked by rebbel (35553points) February 7th, 2020

“The object of life is not to be
on the side of the majority,
but to escape finding oneself in
the ranks of the insane.”

Is it possible to make it more simple?
I get the two separate statements, but have difficulty with their meaning as a comparison (which I believe it is intended).

Thanks in advance!

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7 Answers

ragingloli's avatar

“Think Different” – some ancient apple commercial.

stanleybmanly's avatar

He is saying the majority can go crazy. (Trump might be re-elected)

KNOWITALL's avatar

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

(The Road Not Taken-Robert Frost)

SavoirFaire's avatar

It’s not actually a Marcus Aurelius quote.

In any case, it reads to me like an exhortation to resist peer pressure or a mob mentality.

@KNOWITALL The Frost poem is satirical.

janbb's avatar

Although apparently it’s not from Aurelius, i think what is meant is be an original thinker, don’t follow the majority, but don’t divorce yourself so much from reality that you become insane.

LadyMarissa's avatar

Think for yourself…independent of others…don’t become part of the sheep’s flock where the blind leads the blind!!! As Lindsey Buckingham wrote & Fleetwood Mac sang Go Your Own Way

ucme's avatar

I really liked Gladiator!

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