--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But if we judge only those things which…" description: "\"But if we judge only those things which are in our power to be good or bad, there remains no reason either for finding fault with God or standing in a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/marcus-aurelius-139_attitude_but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which_1198776.jpg" --- # But if we judge only those things which are in our power… ![“But if we judge only those things which are in our power to be good or bad, there remains no reason either for finding fault with God or standing in a hostile attitude to man.” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/marcus-aurelius-139_attitude_but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which_1198776.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/marcus-aurelius-139_attitude_but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which_1198776.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/marcus-aurelius-139_attitude_but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which_1198776.jpg) > “But if we judge only those things which are in our power to be good or bad, there remains no reason either for finding fault with God or standing in a hostile attitude to man.” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing only on what we control removes blame from external forces, fostering inner peace. **In simple terms:** Control what you can, accept the rest. Key Takeaway Practice focusing on personal agency. Themes control acceptance inner peace Mood calming reflective Type philosophical self‑help When to use this quote - stress management - leadership - personal development Key Concepts Stoic philosophy ethical self‑governance Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your life can you truly control? - How do you respond when external events challenge your calm? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic issues beyond personal control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Be good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-good/) [Fault God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fault-god-637379/) [Faults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faults/) [Finding fault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-fault/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Hostile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostile/) [Hostile Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostile-attitude-3514496/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Judge Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-things-442718/) [Judging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judging/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [No reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-reason/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Remains Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains-reason-3587044/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) ## Related quotes > [“If you suppose that the things that are not within your power are good or bad for you, then if you suffer a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-you-suppose-that-the-things-that-are-not-within-your-power-are/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [People who think honestly and deeply have a hostile attitude towards the public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-who-think-honestly-and-deeply-have-a-hostile-attitude-towards/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The hostile attitude of conquering nature ignores the basic interdependence of all things and events--that the world beyond the skin is actually an extension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-hostile-attitude-of-conquering-nature-ignores-the-basic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One must learn to forgive and not to hold a hostile, bitter attitude of mind, which offends those about us and prevents us from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/one-must-learn-to-forgive-and-not-to-hold-a-hostile-bitter-attitude/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [“She began to fret about God's exact location. It was the Sunday-school teacher's fault: God is everywhere, she'd said, and Laura wanted to know:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/she-began-to-fret-about-god-s-exact-location-it-was-the-sunday-school/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Our eyes are at fault, that is all. God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/our-eyes-are-at-fault-that-is-all-god-is-in-the-manger-wealth-in/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If a man is unhappy, remember that his unhappiness is his own fault, for God made all men to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/if-a-man-is-unhappy-remember-that-his-unhappiness-is-his-own-fault/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Because if it's not her fault, it's God's, and I'm not ready to be pissed at the Almighty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/because-if-it-s-not-her-fault-it-s-god-s-and-i-m-not-ready-to-be/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [We are suffering from our own Karma. It is not the fault of God. What we do is our own fault, nothing else. Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-are-suffering-from-our-own-karma-it-is-not-the-fault-of-god-what/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [No matter whose fault, God sends us through storms so we can land in a place we never would have otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/no-matter-whose-fault-god-sends-us-through-storms-so-we-can-land-in-a/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [Face the fact and the fact is that many unhappy circumstances appear from the fault of our own and not God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/face-the-fact-and-the-fact-is-that-many-unhappy-circumstances-appear/) [Senoraroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senoraroy/) > [I don't care to people who judge me , Because the things that they says doesn't define me , It Defines them . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-delacruz/i-don-t-care-to-people-who-judge-me-because-the-things-that-they-says/) [Nicolas Delacruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-delacruz/) > [Thus we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason's way, not by popular say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/thus-we-should-beware-of-clinging-to-vulgar-opinions-and-judge-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I am reluctant to judge things without being informed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/i-am-reluctant-to-judge-things-without-being-informed/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [I have no faith in my ability to judge things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-have-no-faith-in-my-ability-to-judge-things/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) ## More by Marcus Aurelius > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Everything is mere opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/everything-is-mere-opinion/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [My true Self is free. I cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/my-true-self-is-free-i-cannot-be-contained/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-best-revenge-is-to-be-unlike-him-who-performed-the-injury/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Nothing befalls any man which he is not fitted to endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/nothing-befalls-any-man-which-he-is-not-fitted-to-endure/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Adorn thyself with simplicity and with indifference towards the things which lie between virtue and vice. Love mankind. Follow God. The poet says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/adorn-thyself-with-simplicity-and-with-indifference-towards-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people's actions, and see what they would be at, as often as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/let-it-be-your-constant-method-to-look-into-the-design-of-people-s/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Our life is a warfare, and a mere pilgrimage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/our-life-is-a-warfare-and-a-mere-pilgrimage/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“If therefore it be a thing external that causes thy grief, know, that it is not that properly that doth cause it, but thine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-therefore-it-be-a-thing-external-that-causes-thy-grief-know-that/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Frightened of change? But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/at-dawn-when-you-have-trouble-getting-out-of-bed-tell-yourself-i-have/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) [Explore all 1,138 Marcus Aurelius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But if we judge only those things which are in our power to be good or bad, there remains no reason either for finding fault with God or standing in a hostile attitude to man.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcus Aurelius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which-are-in-our-power-to-be-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which-are-in-our-power-to-be-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/marcus-aurelius-139_attitude_but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which_1198776.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/marcus-aurelius-139_attitude_but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which_1198776.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9da/marcus-aurelius-139_attitude_but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which_1198776.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But if we judge only those things which are in our power to be good or bad, there remains no reason either…” — Marcus Aurelius", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marcus Aurelius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But if we judge only those...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which-are-in-our-power-to-be-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/but-if-we-judge-only-those-things-which-are-in-our-power-to-be-good/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```