Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §4.30.1

Practicing Philosophy in Poverty and Staying True to Reason

Passage 80 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author introduces those who practice philosophy despite lacking clothing or books, and declares that he himself continues to adhere to Reason even without the nourishment derived from formal learning.

§4.30.1Ὁ μὲν χωρὶς χιτῶνος φιλοσοφεῖ, ὁ δὲ χωρὶς βιβλίου.
One man practices philosophy without a tunic, another without a book.
ἄλλος οὗτος ἡμίγυμνος· ἄρτους οὐκ ἔχω, φησί, καὶ ἐμμένω τῷ λόγῳ. —ἐγὼ δὲ τροφὰς τὰς ἐκ τῶν μαθημάτων οὐκ ἔχω καὶ ἐμμένω.
Here is another who is half-naked: "I have no bread," he says, "yet I abide by Reason." — And I, though I do not have the nourishment derived from learning, still abide by it.

Notes

  1. §4.30.1ἄλλος οὗτος ἡμίγυμνος — A copulative sentence with the verb ἐστί omitted. It literally translates to "this other one is half-naked," introducing another concrete example of a philosopher living in extreme poverty directly following the previous sentence.
  2. §4.30.1καὶ ἐμμένω — The coordinating conjunction καί is used here with an adversative force ("and yet"). Additionally, the second and third instances of ἐμμένω omit the dative object (τῷ λόγῳ) which is understood from the first instance. This omission sharpens the contrast between the lack of nourishment (physical or intellectual) and the steadfast adherence to Reason.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §4.30.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.30.1

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