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Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §11.27.1

The Pythagorean Precept to Look at the Heavens at Dawn

Passage 439 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The precept of the Pythagoreans is introduced, urging to look up at the heaven at dawn to remember the orderly, pure, and unconcealed performance of duty by the celestial bodies.

§11.27.1Οἱ Πυθαγόρειοι· ἕωθεν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἀφορᾶν, ἵν’ ὑπομιμνῃσκώμεθα τῶν ἀεὶ κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ καὶ ὡσαύτως τὸ ἑαυτῶν ἔργον διανυόντων καὶ τῆς τάξεως καὶ τῆς καθαρότητος καὶ τῆς γυμνότητος· οὐδὲν γὰρ προκάλυμμα ἄστρου.
The Pythagoreans [recommended]: to look up to the heaven at dawn, so that we may remember those who always perform their own work in the same manner and in the same way, and also their order, purity, and nakedness; for there is no veil over a star.

Notes

  1. §11.27.1ἀφορᾶν — An independent infinitive in a context where a main verb (such as "recommended" or "said") is omitted. It functions either as an imperative infinitive conveying an exhortation or as an infinitive in indirect discourse reporting the Pythagorean precept.
  2. §11.27.1τῶν ... διανυόντων — A present participle (genitive plural) functioning as the direct object of the verb `ὑπομιμνῃσκώμεθα`, which governs the genitive. In this context, it refers to the celestial bodies (stars) that faithfully perform their own specific task (`τὸ ἑαυτῶν ἔργον`) on their constant paths.
  3. §11.27.1τῆς γυμνότητος — The third genitive noun governed by `ὑπομιμνῃσκώμεθα` (following `τῆς τάξεως` and `τῆς καθαρότητος`). As explained by the subsequent clause "for there is no veil over a star," it denotes the state of the celestial bodies shining in their true, pure, and unconcealed form, unobstructed by clouds, dust, or pretension.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §11.27.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.27.1

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