An exercise of attention to the other. The imperative "accustom yourself" (ἔθισον σεαυτόν) sets up a skill: at another's words, "to be without wandering off" (ἀπαρενθυμήτως — not letting the mind drift aside). Attention here is directed not inward (as in προσοχή to one's own judgments) but outward — to a neighbour's speech. The governing discipline is action (a social skill); the sustaining one is assent.

To get inside the speaker's soul. The second beat goes beyond mere listening: "as far as possible, come to be in the TERMsoul of the speaker" (ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ τοῦ λέγοντος γίνου). This is a move of DOGMAfellow-feeling: to grasp not only the words but their source — the disposition from which they are spoken. From this arise both justice toward one's interlocutor and tolerance: having seen from within, one condemns less often (cf. 06-57: the deluded cannot do otherwise; 06-27: he errs through ignorance).

Parallels. Attention outward — a rare "dialogical" move in Marcus; the DOGMAsocial nature; cf. Med. 4.38 (to look into the ruling part of others); 7.4 (to attend not only to words but to the meaning); 06-30 (Antoninus "examined characters exactly").