Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §5.29.1

Freedom in Rational Nature and Peaceful Exit from Life

Passage 130 of 486 · Greek

Summary

Marcus Aurelius explains that one can live here as if already departed, and if external obstacles prevent this, one should peacefully leave life like exiting a smoky room, remaining free to act according to rational and social nature.

§5.29.1Ὡς ἐξελθὼν ζῆν διανοῇ, οὕτως ἐνταῦθα ζῆν ἔξεστιν·
Just as you intend to live when you have departed, so it is possible to live here.
ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἐπιτρέπωσι, τότε καὶ τοῦ ζῆν ἔξιθι, οὕτως μέντοι ὡς μηδὲν κακὸν πάσχων.
But if they do not permit it, then depart even from life, yet in such a way as one who suffers no evil.
καπνὸς καὶ ἀπέρχομαι· τί αὐτὸ πρᾶγμα δοκεῖς;
"There is smoke, and I depart." Why do you think this a great matter?
μέχρι δέ με τοιοῦτον οὐδὲν ἐξάγει, μένω ἐλεύθερος καὶ οὐδείς με κωλύσει ποιεῖν ἃ θέλω· θέλω δὲ κατὰ φύσιν τοῦ λογικοῦ καὶ κοινωνικοῦ ζῴου.
But as long as nothing of this kind drives me out, I remain free, and no one will prevent me from doing what I wish; and I wish what is in accordance with the nature of a rational and social being.

Notes

  1. §5.29.1ἐξελθὼν — Active aorist participle, masculine singular nominative, from ἐξέρχομαι ('to go out, depart'), referring here to dying or departing from this life. The phrase 'Ὡς ἐξελθὼν ζῆν διανοῇ' means 'just as you intend to live when you have departed (or once you are out/free)', assuming a state of freedom from current constraints.
  2. §5.29.1καπνὸς καὶ ἀπέρχομαι — 'There is smoke, and I depart.' A famous Stoic metaphor (found also in Epictetus) for suicide or voluntary departure from life. Just as one quietly leaves a room when it becomes filled with intolerable smoke, so one may peacefully end one's life when external constraints make living rationally impossible, without resentment.
  3. §5.29.1τί αὐτὸ πρᾶγμα δοκεῖς; — It is standard to interpret the interrogative pronoun τί adverbially ('why') and supply the omitted adjective μέγα ('great, important'), meaning 'Why do you think the matter itself (i.e., death or departing from life) is a great thing?' This reflects the Stoic view that death should not be feared or regarded as a grave evil.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §5.29.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:5.29.1

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