Commentary on Meditations: B7:14-15

Let any external thing that so wishes happen to those parts of me which can be affected by its happening - and they, if they wish, can complain. I myself am not yet harmed, unless I judge this occurrence something bad: and I can refuse to do so.

Whatever anyone does or says, I must be a good man. It is as if an emerald, or gold or purple, were always saying: 'Whatever anyone does or says, I must be an emerald and keep my own colour.'

sign above our kitchen door

No matter what happens and no matter who does anything to you, your mind and soul are unharmed.  Others may complain, but you do not have to.  You can choose to complain or not.  Attitude is everything, so pick a good one!

Marcus continues with a reminder that no matter what happens or what others do, he must be a good man.  It is the same with you and me.  At the end of the day, what others do and what happens in the universe and world is out of our control.  The things in our control are our attitudes and actions.  I love his little analogy about an emerald or a color.  Whatever happens, that emerald will keep on being an emerald and that color will keep on being that color.  Decide to be a good person and never deviate.

(see also Citadel p. 41, 268)