I've just started reading The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations for Clarity, Effectiveness, and Serenity and I think their interpretation might be a bit beyond what Marcus Aurelius meant.

"One person, on doing well by others, immediately accounts the expected favor in return. Another is not so quick, but still considers the person a debtor and knows the favor. A third kind of person acts as if not conscious of the deed, rather like a vine producing a cluster of grapes without making further demands, like a horse after its race, or a dog after its walk, or a bee after making its honey. Such a person, having done a good deed, won't go shouting from rooftops but simply moves on to the next deed just like the vine produces another bunch of grapes in the right season."

Marcus Aurelius (Meditations, 5.6)

From how I understood it, there are three types of people in this world. One, who does a deed and kind of holds it above the other person's (they've helped) head. Second, someone who does a deed, doesn't immediately curry in the favor/deed they've just done, but kind of holds it in memory to be repaid somewhere in the future when they need it. Third, someone who simply does a deed without expecting anything in return, because it is expected of them either as an employee, a public servant, a family member or simply as a decent human being.

However, I do agree with his last statement regarding public servants, they are doing a thankless job and so must continue on fulfilling their roles, without expecting credit or recognition from the public.

On a similar note, I've noticed that regardless of what generation, it's now a pretty common practice to publicly take credit for things or outrightly expect the same (even more) level of effort, time, energy or money to be returned. This culture of What's-In-It-For-Me makes me question people's sincerity when it comes to business, work, family relationships and even friendships. It's like, there's a price to pay for every deed done. When did this become a thing? Were good deeds done with no price tags, scarce? How do we sort the folks with the best intentions from the malicious and opportunistic ones?

Like what the Stoics teach, it is only with the things that we can control, can we make a difference. Looking inwards and focusing on ourselves to be better humans, better people. To lead by example. How a leader leads.

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