Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §12.20.1

Acting with Purpose and for the Common Good

Passage 470 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author presents two key principles of conduct: first, to avoid acting at random or without purpose; second, to direct all actions toward the common good of the community.

§12.20.1Πρῶτον τὸ μὴ εἰκῇ μηδὲ ἄνευ ἀναφορᾶς.
First, to do nothing at random or without a reference to some end.
δεύτερον τὸ μὴ ἐπ’ ἄλλο τι ἢ ἐπὶ τὸ κοινωνικὸν τέλος τὴν ἀναγωγὴν ποιεῖσθαι.
Second, to direct your actions to no other end than the social goal.

Notes

  1. §12.20.1τὸ μὴ εἰκῇ μηδὲ ἄνευ ἀναφορᾶς — An articular adverbial phrase with an omitted verb. An infinitive of action (such as πράσσειν, 'to act') is implied, forming a concise rule of conduct with an imperative or hortatory force. Here, ἀναφορά means the end or standard to which actions are referred.
  2. §12.20.1τὴν ἀναγωγὴν ποιεῖσθαι — The combination of the noun ἀναγωγή (direction or reference to an end) and the middle infinitive ποιεῖσθαι, functioning equivalently to the single verb ἀνάγειν (to direct or refer). Prefaced by the article τὸ, it forms an imperative or hortatory infinitive phrase corresponding to the first sentence.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §12.20.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:12.20.1

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