Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §10.6.1-10.6.2

Being Part of the Whole and Welcoming One's Lot

Passage 380 of 486 · Greek

Summary

Regardless of whether the universe is composed of atoms or ruled by nature, the author argues that by acknowledging one's role as a part of the whole and one's relation to fellow parts, one can welcome destiny and act for the common good, leading to a smoothly flowing life.

§10.6.1Εἴτε ἄτομοι εἴτε φύσις, πρῶτον κείσθω ὅτι μέρος εἰμὶ τοῦ ὅλου ὑπὸ φύσεως διοικουμένου· ἔπειτα, ὅτι ἔχω πως οἰκείως πρὸς τὰ ὁμογενῆ μέρη.
Whether atoms or nature, first let it be laid down that I am a part of the whole which is governed by nature; secondly, that I am in some way intimately related to the parts of the same kind.
τούτων γὰρ μεμνημένος, καθότι μὲν μέρος εἰμί, οὐδενὶ δυσαρεστήσω τῶν ἐκ τοῦ ὅλου ἀπονεμομένων· οὐδὲν γὰρ βλαβερὸν τῷ μέρει ὃ τῷ ὅλῳ συμφέρει.
For remembering these things, insofar as I am a part, I shall be dissatisfied with nothing of those things which are assigned to me from the whole; for nothing is harmful to the part which is of advantage to the whole.
οὐ γὰρ ἔχει τι τὸ ὅλον ὃ μὴ συμφέρει ἑαυτῷ, πασῶν μὲν φύσεων κοινὸν ἐχουσῶν τοῦτο, τῆς δὲ τοῦ κόσμου προσειληφυίας τὸ μηδὲ ὑπό τινος ἔξωθεν αἰτίας ἀναγκάζεσθαι βλαβερόν τι ἑαυτῇ γεννᾶν.
For the whole contains nothing which is not conducive to its own interest, a property indeed common to all natures, but the nature of the universe has this additionally, that it cannot be forced by any external cause to generate anything harmful to itself.
§10.6.2κατὰ μὲν δὴ τὸ μεμνῆσθαι ὅτι μέρος εἰμὶ ὅλου τοῦ τοιούτου, εὐαρεστήσω παντὶ τῷ ἀποβαίνοντι, καθόσον δὲ ἔχω πως οἰκείως πρὸς τὰ ὁμογενῆ μέρη, οὐδὲν πράξω ἀκοινώνητον, μᾶλλον δὲ στοχάσομαι τῶν ὁμογενῶν καὶ πρὸς τὸ κοινῇ συμφέρον πᾶσαν ὁρμὴν ἐμαυτοῦ ἄξω καὶ ἀπὸ τοὐναντίου ἀπάξω.
In accordance, then, with remembering that I am a part of such a whole, I shall be well pleased with everything that happens; and insofar as I am in some way intimately related to the parts of the same kind, I shall do nothing unsocial, but rather I shall aim at my fellow parts, and direct every impulse of my own toward the common interest, and turn it away from the contrary.
τούτων δὲ οὕτως περαινομένων ἀνάγκη τὸν βίον εὐροεῖν, ὡς ἂν καὶ πολίτου βίον εὔρουν ἐπινοήσειας προιόντος διὰ πράξεων τοῖς πολίταις λυσιτελῶν καὶ ὅπερ ἂν ἡ πόλις ἀπονέμῃ, τοῦτο ἀσπαζομένου.
And if these things are thus performed, life must necessarily flow smoothly, just as you might conceive the life of a citizen to flow smoothly, as he goes forward through actions beneficial to the citizens and welcomes whatever the state may assign.

Notes

  1. §10.6.1Εἴτε ἄτομοι εἴτε φύσις — A noun phrase expressing a concessive hypothesis with the omission of the verb (e.g., 'are' or 'is'), contrasting the two main cosmological theories of the ancient world (Atomism and Stoic Nature): 'Whether [the universe consists of] atoms or [is] nature.'
  2. §10.6.1πασῶν μὲν φύσεων κοινὸν ἐχουσῶν τοῦτο, τῆς δὲ τοῦ κόσμου προσειληφυίας τὸ μηδὲ ὑπό τινος ἔξωθεν αἰτίας ἀναγκάζεσθαι βλαβερόν τι ἑαυτῇ γεννᾶν — A parallel construction of two genitive absolutes. The first clause expresses 'while all natures have this (property of holding nothing harmful to themselves) in common,' and the second 'and the nature of the universe having additionally this...'. Within the latter, the articular infinitive phrase 'to mēde... gennan' serves as the direct object of the participle 'proseilēphuias'.
  3. §10.6.2ὡς ἂν καὶ πολίτου βίον εὔρουν ἐπινοήσειας προιόντος διὰ πράξεων τοῖς πολίταις λυσιτελῶν καὶ ὅπερ ἂν ἡ πόλις ἀπονέμῃ, τοῦτο ἀσπαζομένου — The construction 'hōs an + optative (epinoēseias)' expresses a potential comparison: 'as you might conceive'. The genitive noun 'politou' is modified by two parallel participles 'proiontos' and 'aspazomenou', meaning 'a citizen who goes forward through beneficial actions and welcomes the state's assignment.'

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §10.6.1-10.6.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:10.6.1-10.6.2

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