Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §12.27.1

The Vanished Past and the Value of a Simple Life

Passage 477 of 486 · Greek

Summary

Reflect on how those who once flourished in fame or anger have now turned into smoke and ash, and understand how much more philosophical it is to live simply and justly under one's given circumstances.

§12.27.1Συνεχῶς ἀναπολεῖν τοὺς ἐπί τινι λίαν ἀγανακτήσαντας, τοὺς ἐν μεγίσταις δόξαις ἢ συμφοραῖς ἢ ἔχθραις ἢ ὁποιαισοῦν τύχαις ἀκμάσαντας· εἶτα ἐφιστάνειν· ποῦ νῦν πάντα ἐκεῖνα;
Constantly reflect on those who have been excessively angry about anything, those who have flourished in the highest reputation, or misfortunes, or enmities, or any kind of fortune whatsoever; then stop and think: Where are all those things now?
καπνὸς καὶ σποδὸς καὶ μῦθος ἢ οὐδὲ μῦθος.
Smoke and ash and a tale, or not even a tale.
συμπροσπιπτέτω δὲ καὶ τὸ τοιοῦτο πᾶν, οἷον· Φάβιος Κατουλλῖνος ἐπ’ ἀγροῦ καὶ Λούσιος Δοῦπος ἐν τοῖς κήποις καὶ Στερτίνιος ἐν Βαίαις καὶ Τιβέριος ἐν Καπρίαις καὶ Οὐήλιος Ῥοῦφος καὶ ὅλως ἡ πρὸς ὁτιοῦν μετ’ οἰήσεως διαφορά· καὶ ὡς εὐτελὲς πᾶν τὸ κατεντεινόμενον καὶ ὅσῳ φιλοσοφώτερον τὸ ἐπὶ τῆς δοθείσης ὕλης ἑαυτὸν δίκαιον, σώφρονα, θεοῖς ἑπόμενον ἀφελῶς παρέχειν· ὁ γὰρ ὑπὸ ἀτυφίᾳ τῦφος τυφόμενος πάντων χαλεπώτατος.
And let every such case also come to your mind together: for example, Fabius Catullinus in the country, and Lucius Lupus in his gardens, and Stertinius at Baiae, and Tiberius at Capreae, and Velius Rufus, and in general, every rivalry conducted with pride for any object whatsoever; and how worthless is everything that is eagerly striven for, and how much more philosophical it is to present oneself, on the material given, as just, temperate, and following the gods in all simplicity; for the pride that is proud of its freedom from pride is the most intolerable of all.

Notes

  1. 12.27.1ἀναπολεῖν — Functions as an infinitive for imperative (an independent infinitive used with the force of an imperative), directing the reader to "constantly reflect." The subsequent infinitive `ἐφιστάνειν` shares this same construction.
  2. 12.27.1τὸ κατεντεινόμενον — The middle-passive participle of `κατεντείνω` (to stretch tight, to strain or strive eagerly). Here, it means "that which is eagerly striven for" or "contended for," referring to the worldly pursuits over which people desperately contend.
  3. 12.27.1ὁ γὰρ ὑπὸ ἀτυφίᾳ τῦφος τυφόμενος — A wordplay combining the related words `τῦφος` (smoke, pride/vanity) and `τυφόμενος` (being smoked/smoldering). The prepositional phrase `ὑπὸ ἀτυφίᾳ` means "under the guise of freedom from pride," pointing out the paradox that the very consciousness (or display) of one's own humility can become the most deeply rooted form of pride.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §12.27.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:12.27.1

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