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July 18th

EACH THE MASTER OF THEIR OWN DOMAIN

“My reasoned choice is as indifferent to the reasoned choice of my

neighbor, as to his breath and body. However much we’ve been

made for cooperation, the ruling reason in each of us is master of

its own affairs. If this weren’t the case, the evil in someone else

could become my harm, and God didn’t mean for someone else to

control my misfortune.”

—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 8.56

he foundation of a free country is that your freedom to swing your fist
ends where someone else’s nose begins. That is, someone else is free to
do what they like until it interferes with your physical body and space. This
saying can work as a great personal philosophy as well.
But living that way will require two important assumptions. First, you
ought to live your own life in such a way that it doesn’t negatively impose
on others. Second, you have to be open-minded and accepting enough to let
others do the same.
Can you do that? Even when you really, really disagree with the choices
they’re making? Can you understand that their life is their business and
yours is your own? And that you’ve got plenty to wrestle with yourself
without bothering anyone else?