Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §1.15.1-1.15.3

Lessons from Maximus: Self-Mastery and Cheer in Adversity

Passage 15 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author describes what he learned from Maximus, including self-government, cheerfulness in adversity and illness, a finely tempered character of gentleness and dignity, honesty and fairness toward others, and pleasantness in manner.

§1.15.1Παρὰ Μαξίμου τὸ κρατεῖν ἑαυτοῦ καὶ κατὰ μηδὲν περίφορον εἶναι· καὶ τὸ εὔθυμον ἔν τε ταῖς ἄλλαις περιστάσεσι καὶ ἐν ταῖς νόσοις· καὶ τὸ εὔκρατον τοῦ ἤθους καὶ μειλίχιον καὶ γεραρόν· καὶ τὸ οὐ σχετλίως κατεργαστικὸν τῶν προκειμένων· §1.15.2καὶ τὸ πάντας αὐτῷ πιστεύειν περὶ ὧν λέγοι ὅτι οὕτως φρονεῖ, καὶ περὶ ὧν πράττοι ὅτι οὐ κακῶς πράττει. καὶ τὸ ἀθαύμαστον καὶ ἀνέκπληκτον καὶ μηδαμοῦ ἐπειγόμενον ἢ ὀκνοῦν ἢ ἀμηχανοῦν ἢ κατηφὲς ἢ προσσεσηρός, ἢ πάλιν θυμούμενον ἢ ὑφορώμενον· §1.15.3καὶ τὸ εὐεργετικὸν καὶ τὸ συγγνωμονικὸν καὶ τὸ ἀψευδές· καὶ τὸ ἀδιαστρόφου μᾶλλον ἢ διορθουμένου φαντασίαν παρέχειν· καὶ ὅτι οὔτε ᾠήθη ἄν ποτέ τις ὑπερορᾶσθαι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ οὔτε ὑπέμεινεν ἂν κρείττονα αὐτοῦ αὑτὸν ὑπολαβεῖν· καὶ τὸ εὐχαριεντίζεσθαι.
From Maximus, self-government, and not to be carried away by anything; and cheerfulness in other circumstances as well as in illness; and a character finely tempered, both gentle and dignified; and to accomplish what lay before him without complaining; and that everyone believed him, that what he said he really thought, and that what he did he did with no bad intent; and not to be surprised or bewildered, and never to be in a hurry or to shrink back or to be at a loss or to be downcast or to have a forced smile, or on the other hand to be angry or suspicious; and to be beneficent, forgiving, and free from falsehood; and to give the impression of a man who is straight rather than of one who has been corrected; and that no one would ever have thought that he was looked down upon by him, nor would have endured to think himself better than him; and to be pleasant in manner.

Notes

  1. 1.15.1τὸ οὐ σχετλίως κατεργαστικὸν — The adjective `κατεργαστικός` (capable of accomplishing), with the neuter article `τὸ`, is used substantively and governs the objective genitive `τῶν προκειμένων` (what lies before him). The adverbial phrase `οὐ σχετλίως` (not complainingly, not reluctantly) modifies this nominalized verbal idea.
  2. 1.15.2περὶ ὧν λέγοι — The optative mood in the relative clauses (`λέγοι`, `πράττοι`) expresses an iterative or general condition in past time ("whenever he spoke", "whenever he did").
  3. 1.15.3ἀδιαστρόφου μᾶλλον ἢ διορθουμένου — Both are genitive masculine singular participles/adjectives modifying `φαντασίαν` (impression, appearance). They contrast the appearance of "a man who has never been warped" with "one who has been corrected or set straight."
  4. 1.15.3οὔτε ᾠήθη ἄν ποτέ τις — The combination of the particle `ἄν` with the indicative past tenses (`ᾠήθη`, `ὑπέμεινεν`) expresses a past potentiality or a counterfactual condition ("no one would ever have thought...").

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §1.15.1-1.15.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.15.1-1.15.3

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