Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §2.4.1

Awareness of Limited Time and Calming the Soul

Passage 21 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author urges the reader to realize how long they have postponed action despite the grace given by the gods, to understand their place as an efflux of the cosmic governor, and to use their limited time immediately to clear their mind.

§2.4.1Μέμνησο ἐκ πόσου ταῦτα ἀναβάλλῃ καὶ ὁποσάκις προθεσμίας λαβὼν παρὰ τῶν θεῶν οὐ χρᾷ αὐταῖς.
Remember how long you have been postponing these things, and how many times you have received periods of grace from the gods and yet do not make use of them.
δεῖ δὲ ἤδη ποτὲ αἰσθέσθαι τίνος κόσμου μέρος εἶ καὶ τίνος διοικοῦντος τὸν κόσμον ἀπόρροια ὑπέστης καὶ ὅτι ὅρος ἐστί σοι περιγεγραμμένος τοῦ χρόνου, ᾧ ἐὰν εἰς τὸ ἀπαιθριάσαι μὴ χρήσῃ, οἰχήσεται καὶ αὖθις οὐκ ἐξέσται.
You must now at last perceive of what universe you are a part, and as an efflux of what governor of the universe you exist, and that a limit of time is circumscribed for you, which if you do not use to clear away your clouds, it will be gone and will not be possible for you again.

Notes

  1. 2.4.1ὑπέστης — The active second-person singular aorist of the intransitive form of ὑφίστημι, meaning 'to stand under,' hence 'to exist,' 'to arise,' or 'to have subsistence.' Here it describes the human being's existence as an efflux (ἀπόρροια) of the cosmic governor.
  2. 2.4.1εἰς τὸ ἀπαιθριάσαι — An expression of purpose consisting of the preposition εἰς and the articular aorist active infinitive of ἀπαιθριάζω. The verb literally means 'to become clear (of weather)' or 'to disperse clouds,' used here metaphorically in the context of ethical and mental self-mastery, meaning 'to clear away the clouds of the mind.'

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §2.4.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.4.1

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