Welcome to The Stoic Ledger, a daily money meditation from one of the Stoic sages.

22/365: Marcus Aurelius on others’ opinions

Isn’t it interesting how much we care for ourselves and yet we spend our money on the basis of another’s opinion? 

Pandering to what we think they’ll think of us. 

As Marcus Aurelius points out, we love ourselves, probably more than anyone else. 

A perplexing thought, then, as to the reason we aim to please others with our lives and our things, all while neglecting the development of our virtue, our inner good. 

The desire to be one with a tribe pulls our dollars like a magnet. The clothes we buy, the homes we purchase, the emblem on our car — how many of these are influenced through external filters, rather than our own? 

Beyond our basic needs, our decisions transcend from utilitarian to status-oriented. Beacons and bids for attention from the tribe. 

What are your true opinions?