Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §2.16.1

Five Ways the Soul Degrades Itself and the Ancient State

Passage 33 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author lists five ways in which the human soul does violence to itself, and argues that all actions should be directed toward the ultimate end, which is to follow the reason and law of the most ancient state.

§2.16.1Ὑβρίζει ἑαυτὴν ἡ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ψυχὴ μάλιστα μέν, ὅταν ἀπόστημα καὶ οἷον φῦμα τοῦ κόσμου, ὅσον ἐφ̓ ἑαυτῇ, γένηται·
The soul of man does violence to itself first and foremost when it becomes, so far as in it lies, an abscess and as it were a growth upon the universe.
τὸ γὰρ δυσχεραίνειν τινὶ τῶν γινομένων ἀπόστασίς ἐστι τῆς φύσεως, ἧς ἐν μέρει αἱ ἑκάστου τῶν λοιπῶν φύσεις περιέχονται.
For to be disgruntled with anything that happens is a separation from Nature, in which the natures of all other individual things are contained as parts.
ἔπειτα δέ, ὅταν ἄνθρωπόν τινα ἀποστραφῇ ἢ καὶ ἐναντία φέρηται ὡς βλάψουσα, οἷαί εἰσιν αἱ τῶν ὀργιζομένων.
Secondly, when it turns away from any person, or even opposes them with the intent to harm, as is the case with the souls of those who are angry.
τρίτον ὑβρίζει ἑαυτήν, ὅταν ἡσσᾶται ἡδονῆς ἢ πόνου.
Thirdly, it does violence to itself when it is overcome by pleasure or pain.
τέταρτον, ὅταν ὑποκρίνηται καὶ ἐπιπλάστως καὶ ἀναλήθως τι ποιῇ ἢ λέγῃ.
Fourthly, when it plays a part, and does or says anything insincerely and untruthfully.
πέμπτον, ὅταν πρᾶξίν τινα ἑαυτῆς καὶ ὁρμὴν ἐπ’ οὐδένα σκοπὸν ἀφιῇ, ἀλλ’ εἰκῇ καὶ ἀπαρακολουθήτως ὁτιοῦν ἐνεργῇ, δέον καὶ τὰ μικρότατα κατὰ τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ τέλος ἀναφορὰν γίνεσθαι·
Fifthly, when it directs no action or impulse of its own toward any goal, but does anything whatever at random and without consideration, whereas even the smallest things ought to be done with reference to the end.
τέλος δὲ λογικῶν ζῴων τὸ ἕπεσθαι τῷ τῆς πόλεως καὶ πολιτείας τῆς πρεσβυτάτης λόγῳ καὶ θεσμῷ.
And the end of rational beings is to follow the reason and law of the most ancient city and constitution.

Notes

  1. 2.16.1ὅσον ἐφ' ἑαυτῇ — An idiomatic expression meaning 'as far as lies in itself' or 'so far as it is concerned.' The preposition ἐπί with the dative ἑαυτῇ denotes dependence or control, indicating that the soul's detachment from the universe is of its own doing.
  2. 2.16.1ἧς — Relative pronoun in the feminine genitive singular, referring back to the antecedent τῆς φύσεως (Nature). Within the relative clause, ἐν μέρει ('in part' or 'as parts') specifies the relation where the individual natures are contained within the whole of Nature.
  3. 2.16.1δέον — Accusative absolute of the impersonal verb δεῖ ('it is necessary'), acting as a concessive or circumstantial clause meaning 'whereas it is necessary' or 'although it ought to'.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §2.16.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.16.1

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