Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §11.3.1

Rational Readiness for Death and the Christians

Passage 415 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author describes the ideal state of a soul that is ready for death (release from the body), arguing that this readiness must stem from rational individual judgment rather than mere obstinacy, unlike the Christians.

§11.3.1Οἵα ἐστὶν ἡ ψυχὴ ἡ ἕτοιμος, ἐὰν ἤδη ἀπολυθῆναι δέῃ τοῦ σώματος καὶ ἤτοι σβεσθῆναι ἢ σκεδασθῆναι ἢ συμμεῖναι.
What a soul is that which is ready, if at this very moment it must be released from the body, and either be extinguished or dispersed or continue to exist.
τὸ δὲ ἕτοιμον τοῦτο ἵνα ἀπὸ ἰδικῆς κρίσεως ἔρχηται, μὴ κατὰ ψιλὴν παράταξιν ὡς οἱ Χριστιανοί, ἀλλὰ λελογισμένως καὶ σεμνῶς καὶ ὥστε καὶ ἄλλον πεῖσαι, ἀτραγῴδως.
But this readiness must come from an individual judgment, not from mere obstinacy, as with the Christians, but with reason and dignity, and in a way to persuade another also, without tragic show.

Notes

  1. §11.3.1Οἵα ἐστὶν — An exclamatory expression using the relative adjective οἷος. Literally 'Of what a kind is the soul that is ready', implying admiration.
  2. §11.3.1ἵνα ... ἔρχηται — The ἵνα clause with the subjunctive is used here independently to express a command or obligation ('must come from'), a usage typical of Koine Greek where a governing verb like δεῖ is omitted.
  3. §11.3.1κατὰ ψιλὴν παράταξιν — The noun παράταξις originally means 'military array' or 'battle order', but here it denotes 'mere obstinacy', 'resistance', or 'partisan spirit', referring critically to the blind conviction of Christians facing martyrdom.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §11.3.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.3.1

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