Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §10.12.1

Pursuing Justice through Reason and Facing Obstacles

Passage 386 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author emphasizes acting with reason and justice, advising how to proceed when facing obstacles or uncertainty, and describes the harmonious state of mind of one who follows reason.

§10.12.1Τίς ὑπονοίας χρεία παρὸν σκοπεῖν τί δεῖ πραχθῆναι, κἂν μὲν συνορᾷς, εὐμενῶς, ἀμεταστρεπτὶ ταύτῃ χωρεῖν· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ συνορᾷς, ἐπέχειν καὶ συμβούλοις τοῖς ἀρίστοις χρῆσθαι·
What need of suspicion is there, when it is possible to examine what ought to be done? And if you see it clearly, go on this way contentedly, without turning back; but if you do not see it clearly, pause and consult the best advisers.
ἐὰν δὲ ἕτερά τινα πρὸς ταῦτα ἀντιβαίνῃ, προιέναι κατὰ τὰς παρούσας ἀφορμὰς λελογισμένως, ἐχόμενον τοῦ φαινομένου δικαίου; ἄριστον γὰρ κατατυγχάνειν τούτου, ἐπεί τοι ἥ γε ἀπόπτωσις ἀπὸ τούτου ἐστίν.
And if any other things oppose this, proceed according to your present resources with foresight, holding fast to what seems just; for it is best to attain this, since to fall away from this is indeed the failure.
σχολαῖόν τι καὶ ἅμα εὐκίνητόν ἐστι καὶ φαιδρὸν ἅμα καὶ συνεστηκὸς ὁ τῷ λόγῳ κατὰ πᾶν ἑπόμενος.
He who follows reason in everything is both leisurely and yet quick to move, cheerful and at the same time composed.

Notes

  1. §10.12.1παρὸν — Accusative absolute of the impersonal verb `πάρεστι` (it is possible/present). It functions as a concessive or conditional clause meaning "when it is possible" or "while it is open to you," introducing the infinitive `σκοπεῖν`.
  2. §10.12.1ἐχόμενον — Present middle participle, masculine singular nominative, from `ἔχομαι` meaning "to cling to" or "to hold fast to" when taking the genitive (here `τοῦ φαινομένου δικαίου`). It agrees with the implied subject (the reader or a general person, masculine singular) of the imperative infinitive `προϊέναι`. It should not be confused with a neuter participle despite nearby neuter forms.
  3. §10.12.1σχολαῖόν τι — The predicate adjectives (`σχολαῖόν τι`, `εὐκίνητόν`, etc.) are neuter singular, despite the subject `ὁ ... ἑπόμενος` being masculine singular. This is a common Greek idiom where a person of a certain type is described generically as an abstract entity ("a person who follows reason is a thing that is leisurely...").

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §10.12.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:10.12.1

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