Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §5.16.1

The Dyeing of the Soul and Purpose of Rational Beings

Passage 117 of 486 · Greek

Summary

Marcus Aurelius explains that the mind is dyed by its thoughts, illustrating this with the example of living well even in a palace, and argues that everything is constituted for an end, which for rational beings is fellowship.

§5.16.1Οἷα ἂν πολλάκις φαντασθῇς, τοιαύτη σοι ἔσται ἡ διάνοια· βάπτεται γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν φαντασιῶν ἡ ψυχή.
Such as are the things you often picture to yourself, such will be your mind; for the soul is dyed by its thoughts.
βάπτε οὐν αὐτὴν τῇ συνεχείᾳ τῶν τοιούτων φαντασιῶν· οἷον, ὅτι ὅπου ζῆν ἐστιν, ἐκεῖ καὶ εὖ ζῆν· ἐν αὐλῇ δὲ ζῆν ἐστιν· ἔστιν ἄρα καὶ εὖ ζῆν ἐν αὐλῇ.
Dye it then with a continuous series of such thoughts as these: for instance, that where it is possible to live, there it is also possible to live well; but it is possible to live in a palace; therefore it is also possible to live well in a palace.
καὶ πάλιν, ὅτι οὗπερ ἕνεκεν ἕκαστον κατεσκεύασται, πρὸς τοῦτο φέρεται· πρὸς ὃ φέρεται δέ, ἐν τούτῳ τὸ τέλος αὐτοῦ· ὅπου δὲ τὸ τέλος, ἐκεῖ καὶ τὸ συμφέρον καὶ τὸ ἀγαθὸν ἑκάστου· τὸ ἄρα ἀγαθὸν τοῦ λογικοῦ ζῴου κοινωνία.
And again, that for the sake of which each thing has been constituted, towards this it is carried; and towards what it is carried, in this is its end; and where its end is, there also is the advantage and the good of each thing; therefore the good of a rational animal is fellowship.
ὅτι γὰρ πρὸς κοινωνίαν γεγόναμεν, πάλαι δέδεικται·
For that we have been made for fellowship has long been shown.
ἢ οὐκ ἦν ἐναργὲς ὅτι τὰ χείρω τῶν κρειττόνων ἕνεκεν, τὰ δὲ κρείττω ἀλλήλων;
Or was it not clear that the inferior things exist for the sake of the superior, and the superior for the sake of one another?
κρείττω δὲ τῶν μὲν ἀψύχων τὰ ἔμψυχα, τῶν δὲ ἐμψύχων τὰ λογικά.
And the animate are superior to the inanimate, and the rational to the animate.

Notes

  1. 5.16.1οἷον, ὅτι — The conjunction ὅτι following οἷον ('for instance') introduces noun clauses in apposition or indirect discourse, indicating the concrete content of the examples. Here, two major examples (one concerning 'living in a palace' and the other 'the end of rational beings') are introduced with ὅτι.
  2. 5.16.1τὰ δὲ κρείττω ἀλλήλων — The genitive ἀλλήλων ('one another') after τὰ δὲ κρείττω ('the superior') is understood with the omission of the preposition ἕνεκεν ('for the sake of') from the preceding clause τῶν κρειττόνων ἕνεκεν. Thus, it means 'and the superior [exist] for the sake of one another.' Interpreting the genitive as a genitive of comparison ('the superior are superior to one another') would contradict the Stoic teleological context of cosmic harmony and fellowship.
  3. 5.16.1τῶν μὲν ἀψύχων τὰ ἔμψυχα — Genitives of comparison governed by the comparative adjective κρείττω ('superior'); τῶν μὲν ἀψύχων is 'than inanimate things,' and the subsequent τῶν δὲ ἐμψύχων is 'than animate things.' This indicates the hierarchy of existence (inanimate < animate < rational).

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §5.16.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.16.1

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