Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §1.8.1-1.8.2

Lessons from Apollonius on Reason and Steadfastness

Passage 8 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author describes what he learned from Apollonius, including dedication to reason, consistency in adversity, the combination of firmness and gentleness, humility in teaching, and the proper way to receive favors from friends.

§1.8.1Παρὰ Ἀπολλωνίου τὸ ἐλεύθερον καὶ ἀναμφιβόλως ἀκύβευτον καὶ πρὸς μηδὲν ἄλλο ἀποβλέπειν μηδὲ ἐπ’ ὀλίγον ἢ πρὸς τὸν λόγον· καὶ τὸ ἀεὶ ὅμοιον, ἐν ἀλγηδόσιν ὀξείαις, ἐν ἀποβολῇ τέκνου, ἐν μακραῖς νόσοις· καὶ τὸ ἐπὶ παραδείγματος ζῶντος ἰδεῖν ἐναργῶς ὅτι δύναται ὁ αὐτὸς σφοδρότατος εἶναι καὶ ἀνειμένος· §1.8.2καὶ τὸ ἐν ταῖς ἐξηγήσεσι μὴ δυσχεραντικόν· καὶ τὸ ἰδεῖν ἄνθρωπον σαφῶς ἐλάχιστον τῶν ἑαυτοῦ καλῶν ἡγούμενον τὴν ἐμπειρίαν καὶ τὴν ἐντρέχειαν τὴν περὶ τὸ παραδιδόναι τὰ θεωρήματα· καὶ τὸ μαθεῖν πῶς δεῖ λαμβάνειν τὰς δοκούσας χάριτας παρὰ φίλων, μήτε ἐξηττώμενον διὰ ταῦτα μήτε ἀναισθήτως παραπέμποντα.
From Apollonius, freedom and unswerving steadfastness; and to look to nothing else, not even for a moment, except to reason; and to be always the same, in sharp pains, in the loss of a child, in long illnesses; and to see clearly by a living example that the same person can be most energetic and yet relaxed; and not to be irritable in explanations; and to see a man who clearly considered his experience and skill in imparting philosophical doctrines as the least of his merits; and to learn how one ought to receive what are esteemed as favors from friends, neither being made to feel subordinate on account of them, nor insensitively dismissing them.

Notes

  1. 1.8.1ἀκύβευτον — The adjective ἀκύβευτος literally means 'not playing with dice' and by extension 'free from hazard', 'unwavering', or 'steadfast'. Substantivized by the article τὸ, it stands in grammatical parallel with the subsequent infinitive clauses.
  2. 1.8.1ἀνειμένος — Perfect passive participle of ἀνίημι ('to relax', 'to let go'). Here in contrast to σφοδρότατος ('most intense', 'highly energetic'), it means 'relaxed', 'gentle', or 'easy-going'. It functions as a predicate nominative with εἶναι, agreeing in case with the subject ὁ αὐτός.
  3. 1.8.2ἡγούμενον — Present participle of ἡγέομαι ('to consider'), modifying the preceding ἄνθρωπον. It takes a double accusative construction, where τὴν ἐμπειρίαν καὶ τὴν ἐντρέχειαν is the direct object and ἐλάχιστον τῶν ἑαυτοῦ καλῶν ('the least of his own merits') is the object complement.
  4. 1.8.2ἐξηττώμενον — The present middle/passive participle ἐξηττώμενον (from ἐξησσάομαι, 'to be worsted, feel inferior') and the active participle παραπέμποντα ('dismissing, letting pass') are in the accusative singular masculine, agreeing with the implied subject of the infinitive λαμβάνειν. Connected by μήτε ... μήτε, they define the proper attitude of receipt through negative conditions.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §1.8.1-1.8.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.8.1-1.8.2

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