Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §11.10.1

The Primacy of Universal Nature as the Source of Virtue

Passage 422 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author argues that nature is not inferior to art, and that from the most perfect common nature arises justice and all other virtues, which will be lost if we are distracted by indifferent things or become unstable.

§11.10.1ʽΟὐκ ἔστι χείρων οὐδεμία φύσις τέχνηςʼ καὶ γὰρ αἱ τέχναι τὰς φύσεις μιμοῦνται.
"No nature is inferior to art," for the arts imitate natures.
εἰ δὲ τοῦτο, ἡ πασῶν τῶν ἄλλων τελεωτάτη καὶ περιληπτικωτάτη φύσις οὐκ ἂν ἀπολείποιτο τῆς τεχνικῆς εὐμηχανίας.
If this is so, the nature which is the most perfect and comprehensive of all others would not fall short of artistic ingenuity.
πᾶσαι δέ γε τέχναι τῶν κρειττόνων ἕνεκεν τὰ χείρω ποιοῦσιν· οὐκοῦν καὶ ἡ κοινὴ φύσις.
Indeed, all arts produce inferior things for the sake of superior ones; therefore, the common nature does so as well.
καὶ δὴ ἔνθεν μὲν γένεσις δικαιοσύνης, ἀπὸ δὲ ταύτης αἱ λοιπαὶ ἀρεταὶ ὑφίστανται· οὐ γὰρ τηρηθήσεται τὸ δίκαιον, ἐὰν ἤτοι διαφερώμεθα πρὸς τὰ μέσα ἢ εὐεξαπάτητοι καὶ προπτωτικοὶ καὶ μεταπτωτικοὶ ὦμεν.
And surely from this source, on the one hand, is the origin of justice, and from this, on the other hand, the rest of the virtues derive their existence; for justice will not be preserved if we are either distracted by intermediate things, or are easily deceived, rash, and fickle.

Notes

  1. 11.10.1εἰ δὲ τοῦτο — An elliptical expression meaning "if this is so" (εἰ δὲ τοῦτο οὕτως ἔχει), referring back to the premise in the preceding sentence.
  2. 11.10.1οὐκ ἂν ἀπολείποιτο — A potential optative (ἂν + optative) expressing a strong likelihood or conviction: "would not fall short of." It governs the genitive τῆς τεχνικῆς εὐμηχανίας.
  3. 11.10.1διαφερώμεθα πρὸς τὰ μέσα — In Stoic philosophy, τὰ μέσα refers to "intermediate" or morally indifferent things. The passive or middle verb διαφέρομαι here means "to conflict over" or "to be emotionally distracted by" these indifferent things.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §11.10.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.10.1

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