Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §11.9.1

Maintaining Right Action and Kindness toward Opponents

Passage 421 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author advises maintaining right judgment and action while preserving gentleness and goodwill toward those who oppose or annoy us, explaining that both anger and fear are signs of weakness.

§11.9.1Οἱ ἐνιστάμενοι προιόντι σοι κατὰ τὸν ὀρθὸν λόγον ὥσπερ ἀπὸ τῆς ὑγιοῦς πράξεως ἀποτρέψαι σε οὐ δυνήσονται, οὕτως μηδὲ τῆς πρὸς αὐτοὺς εὐμενείας ἐκκρουέτωσαν, ἀλλὰ φύλασσε σεαυτὸν ἐπ’ ἀμφοτέρων ὁμοίως, μὴ μόνον ἐπὶ τῆς εὐσταθοῦς κρίσεως καὶ πράξεως, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς πρὸς τοὺς κωλύειν ἐπιχειροῦντας ἢ ἄλλως δυσχεραίνοντας πρᾳότητος.
Just as those who oppose you as you progress according to right reason will not be able to turn you aside from healthy action, so let them not drive you out from your goodwill toward them; but guard yourself equally in both respects, not only in steadfast judgment and action, but also in gentleness toward those who attempt to hinder you or are otherwise disagreeable.
καὶ γὰρ τοῦτο ἀσθενές, τὸ χαλεπαίνειν αὐτοῖς, ὥσπερ τὸ ἀποστῆναι τῆς πράξεως καὶ ἐνδοῦναι καταπλαγέντα· ἀμφότεροι γὰρ ἐπίσης λειποτάκται, ὁ μὲν ὑποτρέσας, ὁ δὲ ἀλλοτριωθεὶς πρὸς τὸν φύσει συγγενῆ καὶ φίλον.
For this too is a weakness, to be angry with them, just as much as to shrink from action and give in through terror; for both are equally deserters, the one who ran away in fear, and the one who became alienated from him who is by nature his kinsman and friend.

Notes

  1. 11.9.1προιόντι — The dative singular masculine present participle of the verb πρόειμι (to go forward), agreeing with the pronoun σοι (you).
  2. 11.9.1ἐκκρουέτωσαν — The third-person plural present active imperative of ἐκκρούω. The subject is 'Οἱ ἐνιστάμενοι' (those who oppose). Literally, 'let them not strike you out [from your goodwill],' serving as a prohibition with the opponents as the active agents.
  3. 11.9.1καταπλαγέντα — The accusative singular masculine aorist passive participle of καταπλήσσω. It modifies the implied subject of the infinitives τὸ ἀποστῆναι and ἐνδοῦναι, which takes the accusative in this infinitive construction.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §11.9.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:11.9.1

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