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Meditations · Book XII · 20Meditations

Book XII · 20

First, do nothing inconsiderately, nor without a purpose. Second, make thy acts refer to nothing else than to a social end.

Firstly, eschew action that is aimless and has no objective. Secondly, take as the only goal of conduct what is to the common interest.

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations XII.20. Translated by George Long (1862). The Stoic Library.