Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §1.3.1

Piety, Generosity, and a Simple Life Learned from Mother

Passage 3 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author credits his mother for teaching him piety, generosity, abstinence from even the thought of evil, and a simple lifestyle far removed from wealth.

§1.3.1Παρὰ τῆς μητρὸς τὸ θεοσεβὲς καὶ μεταδοτικὸν καὶ ἀφεκτικὸν οὐ μόνον τοῦ κακοποιεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦ ἐπὶ ἐννοίας γίνεσθαι τοιαύτης· ἔτι δὲ τὸ λιτὸν κατὰ τὴν δίαιταν καὶ πόρρω τῆς πλουσιακῆς διαγωγῆς.
From my mother, piety, generosity, and abstinence not only from doing evil, but even from the very thought of doing so; and further, simplicity in my way of living, far removed from the lifestyle of the rich.

Notes

  1. 1.3.1ἀφεκτικόν — An adjective derived from the verb ἀπέχομαι (to abstain, refrain from), expressing a habit of restraint. It governs the two following genitive infinitive phrases: τοῦ κακοποιεῖν and τοῦ ... γίνεσθαι.
  2. 1.3.1τοῦ ἐπὶ ἐννοίας γίνεσθαι τοιαύτης — The idiom ἐπὶ ἐννοίας γίνεσθαι (to come to the thought/intention of something) is nominalized as an articular infinitive in the genitive, depending on ἀφεκτικόν. The demonstrative adjective τοιαύτης (such) refers back to the idea of κακοποιεῖν (doing evil).

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §1.3.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.3.1

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