Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §5.28.1

Admonishing Others Through Reason Without Anger

Passage 129 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author argues that one should not be angry at others' bodily odors, but rather use one's own reason to appeal to the other's rational capacity if they possess it, warning against acting like a tragic actor or a prostitute.

§5.28.1Τῷ γράσωνι μήτι ὀργίζῃ, μήτι τῷ ὀζοστόμῳ ὀργίζῃ;
Are you angry with the one who smells of goats, or are you angry with the one who has bad breath?
τί σοι ποιήσει;
What will he do to you?
τοιοῦτον στόμα ἔχει, τοιαύτας μάλας ἔχει, ἀνάγκη τοιαύτην ἀποφορὰν ἀπὸ τοιούτων γίνεσθαι. —ἀλλ’ ὁ ἄνθρωπος λόγον ἔχει, φησί, καὶ δύναται συννοεῖν ἐφιστάνων τί πλημμελεῖ. —εὖ σοι γένοιτο·
He has such a mouth, he has such armpits; it is necessary that such an odor should come from such things. —'But,' someone says, 'man has reason, and he can understand, if he pays attention, in what way he offends.' —May it go well with you!
τοιγαροῦν καὶ σὺ λόγον ἔχεις, κίνησον λογικῇ διαθέσει λογικὴν διάθεσιν, δεῖξον, ὑπόμνησον·
Therefore you too have reason; move his rational disposition by your rational disposition, show him, remind him.
εἰ γὰρ ἐπαίει, θεραπεύσεις καὶ οὐ χρεία ὀργῆς.
For if he listens, you will cure him, and there is no need for anger.
Οὔτε τραγῳδὸς οὔτε πόρνη.
Neither as a tragic actor nor as a prostitute.

Notes

  1. 5.28.1μήτι ὀργίζῃ — The particle μήτι introduces a question expecting a negative answer ('surely you are not angry...?'). The verb ὀργίζῃ is the second-person singular present middle/passive subjunctive (or imperative). In this context, it is best interpreted as a deliberative or rhetorical question: 'Are you angry...?'
  2. 5.28.1ἐφιστάνων — The present active participle of ἐφίστημι in the nominative singular, used intransitively with the sense of 'applying (one's mind)' or 'paying attention'. It functions here as a conditional or circumstantial participle ('if he pays attention' / 'by paying attention').
  3. 5.28.1Οὔτε τραγῳδὸς οὔτε πόρνη — An extremely laconic expression placed at the end of the section with the verb omitted. It contrasts two inappropriate attitudes when correcting others: acting either like a tragic actor (with exaggerated emotional outbursts or anger) or like a prostitute (fawning and flatting), advising instead to act solely on the basis of reason.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §5.28.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.28.1

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