Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §4.2.1

Action Based on Principles Perfecting the Art of Life

Passage 52 of 486 · Greek

Summary

It states that no action should be performed aimlessly, but always in accordance with the principles that perfect the art of life.

§4.2.1Μηδὲν ἐνέργημα εἰκῇ μηδὲ ἄλλως ἢ κατὰ θεώρημα συμπληρωτικὸν τῆς τέχνης ἐνεργείσθω.
Let no act be done at random, nor otherwise than according to a principle complementary to the art.

Notes

  1. §4.2.1ἄλλως ἢ — Meaning 'otherwise than' or 'in any other way than'. Combined with the negative μηδὲ, it forms a strong restriction: 'not otherwise than according to...' (i.e., 'only in accordance with...').
  2. §4.2.1συμπληρωτικὸν τῆς τέχνης — The adjective συμπληρωτικόν means 'completing' or 'perfecting'. The genitive τῆς τέχνης ('of the art', referring to the Stoic 'art of life') functions as an objective genitive governed by this adjective.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §4.2.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.2.1

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