Meditations, Book 8, Section 47

Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Stick to the bare facts about things as they first appear to you. Don't add your own spin. Someone tells you that a person spoke badly about you. Fine — they spoke badly about you. That's all that was reported. But you weren't actually hurt by it. That's just your opinion added on top, and you need to cut that out. I see that my child is sick. Yes, he's sick — I can see that. But I don't actually see that his life is in danger. That's me adding extra worry. This is how you must train yourself. Stay with the first, simple facts as they appear from the outside. Don't pile on your own fears and assumptions from within. Or if you do add something, add it as someone who understands the true nature of how things work in the world.

Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Keep thyself to the first bare and naked apprehensions of things, as they present themselves unto thee, and add not unto them. It is reported unto thee, that such a one speaketh ill of thee. Well; that he speaketh ill of thee, so much is reported. But that thou art hurt thereby, is not reported: that is the addition of opinion, which thou must exclude. I see that my child is sick. That he is sick, I see, but that he is in danger of his life also, I see it not. Thus thou must use to keep thyself to the first motions and apprehensions of things, as they present themselves outwardly; and add not unto them from within thyself through mere conceit and opinion. Or rather add unto them: hut as one that understandeth the true nature of all things that happen in the world.