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Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §12.28.1

Evidence for the Gods and Reverence for Their Power

Passage 478 of 486 · Greek

Summary

In response to those who demand proof of the gods' existence, the author argues that they are visible (as celestial bodies) and that, just as with one's own unseen soul, their existence is known and revered through the constant experience of their power.

§12.28.1Πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιζητοῦντας· ποῦ γὰρ ἰδὼν τοὺς θεοὺς ἢ πόθεν κατειληφὼς ὅτι εἰσὶν οὕτως σέβεις; πρῶτον μὲν καὶ ὄψει ὁρατοί εἰσιν· ἔπειτα μέντοι οὐδὲ τὴν ψυχὴν τὴν ἐμαυτοῦ ἑώρακα καὶ ὅμως τιμῶ·
To those who ask: "Where have you seen the gods, or from what source have you comprehended that they exist, that you worship them so?" First, they are visible even to the eyes; secondly, I have not seen my own soul either, and yet I honor it.
οὕτως οὖν καὶ τοὺς θεούς, ἐξ ὧν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτῶν ἑκάστοτε πειρῶμαι, ἐκ τούτων ὅτι τε εἰσὶ καταλαμβάνω καὶ αἰδοῦμαι.
So too with the gods: from those things in which I experience their power at every moment, from these I comprehend that they exist, and I revere them.

Notes

  1. §12.28.1Πρὸς τοὺς ἐπιζητοῦντας — A verb meaning 'say' or 'reply' (such as ἀποκρίνου) is omitted at the beginning of the sentence. It continues the series of self-exhortations from previous chapters, introducing how to respond to skeptical inquiries from others.
  2. §12.28.1ἐξ ὧν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτῶν ἑκάστοτε πειρῶμαι, ἐκ τούτων — A structure where the noun δυνάμεως within the relative clause functions as the antecedent modified by ὧν, or the relative pronoun ὧν encapsulates its antecedent (experiences/things) with τῆς δυνάμεως depending on it. The phrase redundantly repeats the preposition indicating the source (ἐξ ... ἐκ) to emphasize the basis of conviction: 'from [the things] of their power of which I constantly experience, from these...'

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §12.28.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:12.28.1

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