The offenses done through desire are more blameable than those done through anger

Commentary on Meditations 2.10

Marcus Aurelius is not a dogmatic Stoic.

In Meditations 2.10, he discusses Theophrastus – not a Stoic philosopher – on anger and desire.

2.10

Theophrastus, in his comparison of bad acts – such as the common comparisons people make – says, like a true philosopher, that the offenses which are done through desire are more blameable than those which are done through anger.

For he who is excited by anger seems to turn away from reason with a certain pain and unconscious movement; but he who offends through desire, being overpowered by pleasure, seems to be in a manner more intemperate and effeminate in his offense.

Rightly then, and in a way worthy of philosophy, he said that the offense which is done with pleasure is more blameable than that done with pain; and on the whole the first is more like a person who has been first wronged and through pain is compelled to be angry; but the second is moved by his own impulse to do wrong, carried towards doing something by desire.