“What if someone despises me? Let them see to it. But I will see to it that I won’t be found doing or saying anything contemptible. What if someone hates me? Let them see to that" (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.13).
When a Stoic like Marcus encountered hatred he asked himself, "Can I change this person’s opinion of me?" If not, I will politely ignore him and put all thoughts of him away—an attitude akin to the modern meme that we should not allow unpleasant people to rent space in our heads. This was the Stoic way.
Jesus took Stoic counsel one giant step further. “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:43,44).
The Stoics said, "Never hate a hater." Jesus said, "Overcome haters with good."
David Roper
9.18.20
