"There's nothing worse than a wolf befriending sheep. Avoid false friendship at all costs. If you are good, straightforward, and well meaning it should show in your eyes and not escape notice." -MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 11.15
(“늑대가 양과 친구가 되는 것보다 더 나쁜 것은 없습니다. 어떤 대가를 치르더라도 거짓 우정은 피하세요. 당신이 선하고, 솔직하고, 선의가 있다면 그것은 당신의 눈에서 드러나야 하고, 눈에 띄지 않아야 합니다.” -마르쿠스 아우렐리우스, 명상, 11.15)
It's pretty obvious that one should keep away from the wicked and two-faced as much as possible-the jealous friend, the narcissistic parent, the untrustworthy partner. At first glance, Marcus Aurelius is reminding us to avoid false friends.
But what if we turn it around? What if, instead, we ask about the times that we have been false to our friends? Ultimately that's what Stoicism is about-not judging other people's behavior, but judging our own.
We've all been a frenemy at one point or another.
We've been nice to their face-usually because there was something...
