"When another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, peek inside, and see what kind of people they are. You will realize that there is no need to be racked with anxiety that they should hold any particular opinion about you."

In the 1840s, a Hungarian doctor named Ignaz Semmelweis made a discovery that should've made him a hero. He realized that doctors were killing women in childbirth because they weren't washing their hands after performing autopsies. He implemented a simple chlorine handwashing rule, and the death rate in his clinic dropped by 90%.

Instead of being celebrated, Semmelweis was viciously attacked by the European medical establishment. Prominent doctors mocked him. They were insulted by the suggestion that their hands, the hands of "gentlemen", could be unclean. They called his theory scientific nonsense. They ostracized him from the medical community.

Semmelweis was tormented by this rejection. He eventually had a nervous breakdown and died in an asylum. But looking back today, we ask: Who were his critics? They were men who were so arrogant that they refused to look at the data. They were men who were literally walking around with rotting flesh on their hands while claiming to be healers.

If Semmelweis had been able to truly "peek inside" their souls as Marcus suggests, he might've seen them for what they were: insecure, dogmatic, and dangerously wrong. He would've realized that the disapproval of such people was actually a badge of honor. Their opinions were worthless because their understanding of reality was broken.

This is a cure for social anxiety. We walk around terrified of what "they" think of us. We imagine "they" are a panel of wise, perfect judges watching our every move. Marcus tells us to shatter this illusion. Who are "they"?

Usually, the people judging you are just as confused, scared, and flawed as you are. They're struggling with their own egos. They're making mistakes in their own lives. If you could see inside their minds, get a look at their petty jealousies, their misunderstandings, and their inconsistencies, you'd stop caring about their approval. You don't ask a blind man if your painting is beautiful. So why do you care if a morally confused person thinks you're "on trend" or "successful"?

Errors & Corrections

• Don't assume that because someone is loud, they are right. Volume often compensates for a lack of wisdom. Look at the character behind the noise.
• Don't mistake social status for moral authority. A person can be rich, famous, or powerful and still have a soul that is petty and ignorant.
• Don't look down on them with arrogance. The goal isn't to feel superior. The goal is to objectively assess their competence to judge you so you can let go of the anxiety.

Applications to Modern Life

Social Media

You might get a hate comment from an anonymous account or a person you barely know. Before you get upset, click on their profile. Look at what else they post. You'll often find a stream of negativity, conspiracy theories, or anger. You'll see a person who is clearly miserable. Once you see what kind of person they are, the insult loses its sting. You realize they're yelling at the world, not at you.

Work

You have a colleague who constantly gossips about you or criticizes your work ethic. Instead of feeling defensive, observe how they treat others. Do they gossip about everyone? Do they actually do good work themselves? You'll likely find they're insecure and trying to drag others down to feel safe. Their criticism isn't a performance review. It's a symptom of their own character flaws.

Politics

We often get angry when pundits or politicians attack our values. We feel misunderstood. But look at the source. These are people who make money by manufacturing outrage. Their "soul" in this context is motivated by ratings and clicks, not truth. Why be anxious about the opinion of someone whose job requires them to be angry?

Interpersonal Relationships

If you have a parent or partner who is constantly critical, ask yourself: "Is this person happy?" "Do they handle their own life well?" "Are they at peace?" If the answer is no, then their criticism of you is just a projection of their own internal chaos. You don't need to internalize the judgments of someone who hasn't figured out how to live.

Maxims

• Inspect the judge.
• Their approval is not a credential.
• Look past the voice to the character.

In-depth Concepts

Doxa vs. Episteme

The Greeks distinguished between Doxa (opinion/belief) and Episteme (knowledge/truth). Most people operate on Doxa. They repeat what they hear, they follow trends, and they judge based on feelings. Marcus is reminding you that the crowd offers Doxa, which is unstable and often wrong. Only the wise offer Episteme. If the critic doesn't have wisdom, they only have an opinion, which is wind.

The View from Below (Analysis)

While the "view from above" looks at the universe to see how small we are, this exercise is the "view from below". It dissects the human element. It strips away the titles, the clothes, and the reputation to look at the naked character. When you analyze the components of a person's character (their fears, desires, biases), the fear of their judgment naturally evaporates.