Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §4.22.1

Justice in Every Impulse and Certainty in Every Impression

Passage 72 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author admonishes himself not to be swept away, but to act with justice in every impulse and to preserve the power of comprehension in every impression.

§4.22.1Μὴ ἀπορρέμβεσθαι, ἀλλ’ ἐπὶ πάσης ὁρμῆς τὸ δίκαιον ἀποδιδόναι καὶ ἐπὶ πάσης φαντασίας σῴζειν τὸ καταληπτικόν.
Do not be whirled about, but in every impulse render what is just, and in every impression preserve the faculty of comprehension.

Notes

  1. §4.22.1ἀπορρέμβεσθαι — This infinitive (as well as the subsequent ἀποδιδόναι and σῴζειν) is used in an imperative sense (infinitive of command), expressing self-admonition.
  2. §4.22.1τὸ καταληπτικόν — Related to the key Stoic epistemological concept of 'comprehension' (katalepeis). It refers to the mind's faculty to correctly grasp objective truth, specifically by maintaining and giving assent to 'cognitive impressions' (phantasia kataleptike).

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §4.22.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.22.1

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