Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §1.9.1-1.9.3

Lessons from Sextus on Benevolence and Living by Nature

Passage 9 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author reflects on the virtues learned from Sextus, including benevolence, a natural way of life, care for friends, adaptability, emotional control coupled with deep affection, and unpretentious learning.

§1.9.1Παρὰ Σέξτου τὸ εὐμενές· καὶ τὸ παράδειγμα τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ πατρονομουμένου· καὶ τὴν ἔννοιαν τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν ζῆν· καὶ τὸ σεμνὸν ἀπλάστως· καὶ τὸ στοχαστικὸν τῶν φίλων κηδεμονικῶς· καὶ τὸ ἀνεκτικὸν τῶν ἰδιωτῶν καὶ τὸ ἀθεώρητον οἰομένων· §1.9.2καὶ τὸ πρὸς πάντας εὐάρμοστον, ὥστε κολακείας μὲν πάσης προσηνεστέραν εἶναι τὴν ὁμιλίαν αὐτοῦ, αἰδεσιμώτατον δὲ αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις παρ’ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν εἶναι· καὶ τὸ καταληπτικῶς καὶ ὁδῷ ἐξευρετικόν τε καὶ τακτικὸν τῶν εἰς βίον ἀναγκαίων δογμάτων· §1.9.3καὶ τὸ μηδὲ ἔμφασίν ποτε ὀργῆς ἢ ἄλλου τινὸς πάθους παρασχεῖν, ἀλλὰ ἅμα μὲν ἀπαθέστατον εἶναι, ἅμα δὲ φιλοστοργότατον· καὶ τὸ εὔφημον ἀψοφητὶ καὶ τὸ πολυμαθὲς ἀνεπιφάντως.
From Sextus, benevolence; and the pattern of a family governed by a father; and the concept of living according to nature; and dignity without affectation; and solicitous attention to friends; and tolerance of the unlearned and of those who form opinions without examination; and the power of adapting oneself to all, so that his conversation was more agreeable than any flattery, and yet he was most highly respected by those very persons at that very moment; and the systematic and methodical discovery and arrangement of the principles necessary for life; and never to exhibit even the appearance of anger or any other passion, but to be at the same time most completely free from passion, and yet most affectionate; and the power to express praise without noise; and great learning without display.

Notes

  1. 1.9.1τοῦ πατρονομουμένου — Present passive participle of the verb πατρονομέω (to govern as a father, or to rule according to ancestral laws). Here it designates a household harmoniously and orderly governed by a father.
  2. 1.9.1τὸ στοχαστικὸν τῶν φίλων κηδεμονικῶς — The adjective στοχαστικός governs the genitive τῶν φίλων, meaning "the guessing of the needs or desires of friends." The adverb κηδεμονικῶς (solicitously, affectionately) describes the manner of this action.
  3. 1.9.1τὸ ἀνεκτικὸν τῶν ἰδιωτῶν καὶ τὸ ἀθεώρητον οἰομένων — The adjective ἀνεκτικός governs two genitive constructions: the unlearned "laymen" (ἰδιωτῶν) and "those who form opinions (οἰομένων) on what is unexamined or without foundation (τὸ ἀθεώρητον)".
  4. 1.9.2αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις παρ’ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν εἶναι — αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις is a dative of relation referring to the conversational partners ("to those very persons"). The accusative phrase παρ’ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸν καιρὸν is temporal, meaning "at that very moment of social interaction," emphasizing that respect and friendliness coexisted simultaneously.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §1.9.1-1.9.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:1.9.1-1.9.3

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