Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §11.12.1

The Proper Shape of the Soul and Its Inner Light

Passage 424 of 486 · Greek

Summary

It explains that the sphere of the soul maintains its own uniform and proper shape when it is neither expanded nor contracted by external things, but is illuminated by the inner light through which it beholds the truth of all things and of itself.

§11.12.1Σφαῖρα ψυχῆς αὐτοειδής, ὅταν μήτε ἐκτείνηται ἐπί τι μήτε ἔσω συντρέχῃ μήτε σπειρᾶται μήτε συνιζάνῃ, ἀλλὰ φωτὶ λάμπηται ᾧ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ὁρᾷ τὴν πάντων καὶ τὴν ἐν αὑτῇ.
The sphere of the soul is self-like when it neither stretches out towards anything, nor shrinks inwards, nor disperses, nor collapses, but is illuminated by that light by which it sees the truth of all things and the truth within itself.

Notes

  1. §11.12.1Σφαῖρα ψυχῆς αὐτοειδής — Interpreted as a sentence with the copula (ἐστί) omitted: "The sphere of the soul is self-like (or uniform / retaining its own form)." The adjective αὐτοειδής denotes the state of keeping its own proper or uniform shape, unaffected by external factors.
  2. §11.12.1σπειρᾶται — Present subjunctive middle/passive 3rd person singular of the verb σπειράω (to coil, fold up, twist). In this context, it refers to one of the distortion processes in which the smooth sphere of the soul becomes twisted, wrinkled, or dispersed.
  3. §11.12.1ᾧ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ὁρᾷ — The relative pronoun ᾧ is a dative of means/instrument referring back to the antecedent φωτί. The implied subject of ὁρᾷ is ψυχή (the soul, or the sphere as its metonymy): "by which [the soul] sees the truth."

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §11.12.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.12.1

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