--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If any man despises me, that is his…" description: "\"If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only concern is not doing or saying anything deserving of contempt.\" — Marcus Aurelius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/marcus-aurelius-139_concern_if-any-man-despises-me-that-is-his-probl_1416804.jpg" --- # If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only… ![“If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only concern is not doing or saying anything deserving of contempt.” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/marcus-aurelius-139_concern_if-any-man-despises-me-that-is-his-probl_1416804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/marcus-aurelius-139_concern_if-any-man-despises-me-that-is-his-probl_1416804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77b/marcus-aurelius-139_concern_if-any-man-despises-me-that-is-his-probl_1416804.jpg) > “If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only concern is not doing or saying anything deserving of contempt.” [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. One should not be disturbed by others' contempt; focus on personal integrity and actions. **In simple terms:** Don’t worry about others’ hatred; act honorably. Key Takeaway Maintain personal virtue regardless of others’ opinions. Themes integrity self‑respect resilience Mood reflective steady Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - workplace conflict - social media criticism - family disagreements - public speaking Key Concepts Stoicism personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your actions remain honorable? - What triggers you to care about others’ judgments? A Different Perspective It may be hard to stay calm when criticism is harsh. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) ## Related quotes > [“Every anonymous communication is deserving of contempt, just because it's not signed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/every-anonymous-communication-is-deserving-of-contempt-just-because/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [For so remarkably perverse is the nature of man that he despises whoever courts him, and admires whoever will not bend before him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/for-so-remarkably-perverse-is-the-nature-of-man-that-he-despises/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The rich man despises those who flatter him too much, and hates those who do not flatter him at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/the-rich-man-despises-those-who-flatter-him-too-much-and-hates-those/) [Charles Maurice de Talleyrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-maurice-de-talleyrand/) > [If a great man struggling with misfortunes is a noble object, a little man that despises them is no contemptible one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/if-a-great-man-struggling-with-misfortunes-is-a-noble-object-a-little/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [An Indian respects a brave man, but he despises a coward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-joseph/an-indian-respects-a-brave-man-but-he-despises-a-coward/) [Chief Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-joseph/) > [The pretty fellows you speak of, I own entertain me sometimes, but is it impossible to be diverted with what one despises? I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/the-pretty-fellows-you-speak-of-i-own-entertain-me-sometimes-but-is/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [Foolish the doctor who despises the knowledge acquired by the ancients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippocrates/foolish-the-doctor-who-despises-the-knowledge-acquired-by-the-ancients/) [Hippocrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippocrates/) > [A child cannot be taught by anyone who despises him, and a child cannot afford to be fooled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-child-cannot-be-taught-by-anyone-who-despises-him-and-a-child/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My mother despises what can never truly be done so she does not care for cooking or cleaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-shearin/my-mother-despises-what-can-never-truly-be-done-so-she-does-not-care/) Faith Shearin > [“He who despises simplicity will shout for a simple lifebuoy when drowning in the ocean of complexity!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/he-who-despises-simplicity-will-shout-for-a-simple-lifebuoy-when/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Even the world, that despises simplicity, does not profess to approve of duplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/even-the-world-that-despises-simplicity-does-not-profess-to-approve/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [Anna despises two classes of people: first, those who own their own homes and have cars and families, and second, everybody else. Constantly she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/anna-despises-two-classes-of-people-first-those-who-own-their-own/) [Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/) > [Hollywood does not understand Middle America, and it certainly does not understand and, in fact, despises, the core values of the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-bannon/hollywood-does-not-understand-middle-america-and-it-certainly-does/) [Steve Bannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-bannon/) > [If the world despises a hypocrite, what must they think of him in heaven?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-the-world-despises-a-hypocrite-what-must-they-think-of-him-in/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [It is impossible to read for pleasure from something to which you are both father and mother, born in such travail that the writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bishop/it-is-impossible-to-read-for-pleasure-from-something-to-which-you-are/) [Jim Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bishop/) ## 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 Concern quotes > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I'm a vegetarian - I think there's a strong possibility, had I not become a vegetarian, I would not be working now. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Much has been said and continues to be said of what little concern the Turks had for the Acropolis treasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-mercouri/much-has-been-said-and-continues-to-be-said-of-what-little-concern/) [Melina Mercouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-mercouri/) Browse all 3,297 Concern quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If any man despises me, that is his problem. 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