They Err from Ignorance
This week you are going to study one of the most practically useful ideas in all of Stoic philosophy: that people who behave badly do so out of ignorance, not malice. The Stoics called this "they err involuntarily" (in Greek, the idea traces to Socrates and is woven through Stoic thought as the principle that no one does wrong willingly, Greek: "oudeis hekon hamartanei"). What that means in plain words is this: when someone hurts you, acts selfishly, or causes harm, they are almost always confused about what is truly good, not evil at the core. Learning to see difficult people through this lens does not mean excusing bad behaviour; it means understanding it clearly enough that you can respond with wisdom instead of rage.
Passage
Of course, those who pursue such a course do not need to be warned (for the point is self-evident) to be careful when they seek to oblige some, not to offend others. For oftentimes they hurt those whom they ought not or those whom it is inexpedient to offend. If they do it inadvertently, it is carelessness; if designedly, inconsiderateness. A man must apologize also, to the best of his ability, if he has involuntarily hurt anyone's feelings, and explain why what he has done was unavoidable and why he could not have done otherwise; and he must by future services and kind offices atone for the apparent offence.
— Cicero, On Duties 2.68
Reflection
Today Cicero shifts the angle: even people who are genuinely trying to do good cause harm through carelessness or inconsiderateness, that is, through not thinking carefully enough about consequences. This is a quieter form of the same ignorance Marcus described. The person who offends without realising it is not a monster; they simply did not know, or did not stop to think. Cicero's practical advice is striking: when you have unintentionally hurt someone, acknowledge it, explain what constrained you, and make it right through future actions. The principle of involuntary error runs in both directions. Others err from ignorance toward you, and you err from ignorance toward others. Holding that symmetry in mind softens the self-righteousness that makes difficult relationships harder.
Go deeper
Where in your own life have you caused harm through carelessness rather than intention, and how honestly have you accounted for it?
Practice
The Mirror Check
Spend five minutes writing about one recent situation where you may have unintentionally offended or hurt someone. Ask yourself: did I explain myself, or did I just move on? If an explanation or small repair is still possible, write one sentence you could say or send.