Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §4.46.1

Heraclitus on Constant Change and Conscious Living

Passage 96 of 486 · Greek

Summary

Recalling Heraclitus' teachings on natural transformation, the author urges us to live consciously in accordance with the Logos, rather than acting like dreamers or blindly following inherited traditions.

§4.46.1Ἀεὶ τοῦ Ἡρακλειτείου μεμνῆσθαι, ὅτι γῆς θάνατος ὕδωρ γενέσθαι καὶ ὕδατος θάνατος ἀέρα γενέσθαι καὶ ἀέρος πῦρ καὶ ἔμπαλιν.
Always remember the saying of Heraclitus, that the death of earth is to become water, and the death of water is to become air, and of air, fire, and conversely.
μεμνῆσθαι δὲ καὶ τοῦ ἐπιλανθανομένου, ᾗ ἡ ὁδὸς ἄγει· καὶ ὅτι, ᾧ μάλιστα διηνεκῶς ὁμιλοῦσι, λόγῳ τῷ τὰ ὅλα διοικοῦντι, τούτῳ διαφέρονται· καὶ οἷς καθ’ ἡμέραν ἐγκυροῦσι, ταῦτα αὐτοῖς ξένα φαίνεται· καὶ ὅτι οὐ δεῖ ὥσπερ καθεύδοντας ποιεῖν καὶ λέγειν, καὶ γὰρ καὶ τότε δοκοῦμεν ποιεῖν καὶ λέγειν· καὶ ὅτι οὐ δεῖ ὡς παῖδας τοκεώνων, τουτέστι κατὰ ψιλόν, καθότι παρειλήφαμεν.
And remember also the one who forgets whither the way leads; and that they are at variance with that which they associate with most constantly, namely, the Reason that governs the universe; and that the things they meet with daily seem strange to them; and that we must not act and speak like people asleep, for even then we seem to act and speak; and that we must not be like children of their parents, that is, merely because we have received it.

Notes

  1. 4.46.1μεμνῆσθαι — Functions as an infinitive for imperative, expressing a moral command or duty ('one should remember'). The subject is implied generally, or directed at the author himself.
  2. 4.46.1τοῦ ἐπιλανθανομένου — A substantive participle in the genitive case. Based on the Heraclitus fragment (B71) concerning 'the one who forgets whither the way leads', it is best understood as masculine singular ('the one who forgets') rather than neuter.
  3. 4.46.1καὶ ὅτι — The subsequent `ὅτι` clauses (and the parallel relative clause `καὶ οἷς...`) all function as object clauses dependent on the initial verb of remembering, `μεμνῆσθαι` ('[one must remember] that...').
  4. 4.46.1κατὰ ψιλόν, καθότι παρειλήφαμεν — The phrase modifies the implied actions and speech (`ποιεῖν καὶ λέγειν`) from the previous clause. `κατὰ ψιλόν` means 'simply/merely', and `καθότι` functions as 'because/insofar as', meaning 'merely because we have received it [we should not act or speak]'.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §4.46.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:4.46.1

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