§11.29.1Ἐν τῷ γράφειν καὶ ἀναγινώσκειν οὐ πρότερον ἄρξεις πρὶν ἀρχθῇς.
In writing and reading you will not rule before you are ruled.
τοῦτο πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τῷ βίῳ.
This is much more so in life.
Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §11.29.1
Learning to Be Ruled Before Ruling in Life
Summary
The author states that just as one cannot rule in reading and writing before being ruled, this principle applies even more so to life.
Notes
- §11.29.1ἄρξεις — The verb ἄρχω (active 'to rule, lead', passive 'to be ruled, led') carries the meaning of 'to instruct / be instructed' in the context of writing and reading, but is extended to 'to rule / be ruled' in the context of life. This double meaning is compressed into a single verb.
- §11.29.1πρὶν ἀρχθῇς — In the structure οὐ πρότερον... πρὶν, when the main clause is negative (οὐ πρότερον) and refers to a future event, Attic prose typically requires πρὶν ἄν with the subjunctive. Here, ἄν is omitted, leaving πρὶν with the subjunctive (ἀρχθῇς), which is a common feature in later Greek and poetic style.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §11.29.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.29.1
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