Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §4.18.1

Focusing on One's Own Virtue Instead of Others

Passage 68 of 486 · Greek

Summary

On the peace of mind gained by focusing solely on one's own actions rather than the words and thoughts of others, and the necessity of running straight ahead without distraction.

§4.18.1Ὅσην εὐσχολίαν κερδαίνει ὁ μὴ βλέπων τί ὁ πλησίον εἶπεν ἢ ἔπραξεν ἢ διενοήθη, ἀλλὰ μόνον τί αὐτὸς ποιεῖ, ἵνα αὐτὸ τοῦτο δίκαιον ᾖ καὶ ὅσιον ἢ † κατὰ τὸν ἀγαθὸν·
How much leisure does he gain who does not look at what his neighbour has said or done or thought, but only at what he does himself, in order that this very thing may be just and holy, or in accordance with the good man.
μὴ μέλαν ἦθος περιβλέπεσθαι, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ τῆς γραμμῆς τρέχειν ὀρθόν, μὴ διερριμμένον.
Do not look around at a dark character, but run straight along the line, without being distracted.

Notes

  1. §4.18.1Ὅσην εὐσχολίαν — Although εὐσχολία literally means 'abundant leisure,' here it refers to 'mental peace' or 'tranquility' free from distraction by others' actions. It forms the head of an exclamatory clause with the adjective ὅσην.
  2. §4.18.1† κατὰ τὸν ἀγαθόν — The text contains a corruption (crux). While it is commonly interpreted as 'in accordance with the good man (ἀγαθός),' some scholars reconstruct it as a reference to the tragic poet Agathon ('according to Agathon'). This translation adopts the former interpretation for contextual consistency.
  3. §4.18.1μὴ ... περιβλέπεσθαι, ἀλλʼ ... τρέχειν — The independent infinitives (περιβλέπεσθαι and τρέχειν) function as commands or exhortations (imperative infinitives) addressed to the reader. They are translated as 'one must not look around... but must run.'

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §4.18.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.18.1

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.