Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §6.10.1

Cosmic Chaos or Providence: Trusting the Universal Ruler

Passage 147 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author presents a dilemma between cosmic chaos and orderly providence, arguing that if providence rules, one should remain tranquil and trust the cosmic governor without fearing death.

§6.10.1Ἤτοι κυκεὼν καὶ ἀντεμπλοκὴ καὶ σκεδασμὸς ἢ ἕνωσις καὶ τάξις καὶ πρόνοια.
Either a medley, an entanglement, and a dispersion, or unity, order, and providence.
εἰ μὲν οὗν τὰ πρότερα, τί καὶ ἐπιθυμῶ εἰκαίῳ συγκρίματι καὶ φυρμῷ τοιούτῳ ἐνδιατρίβειν;
If, then, the former, why do I even desire to linger in such a random combination and confusion?
τί δέ μοι καὶ μέλει ἄλλου τινὸς ἢ τοῦ ὅπως ποτὲ ʽαἶα γίνεσθαιʼ;
And why do I care for anything else than how I may at some time 'become earth'?
τί δὲ καὶ ταράσσομαι;
And why am I even troubled?
ἥξει γὰρ ἐπ̓ ἐμὲ ὁ σκεδασμός, ὅ τι ἂν ποιῶ.
For dispersion will come upon me, whatever I do.
εἰ δὲ θάτερά ἐστι, σέβω καὶ εὐσταθῶ καὶ θαρρῶ τῷ διοικοῦντι.
But if the other is the case, I worship, I am steadfast, and I trust in the governor.

Notes

  1. §6.10.1Ἤτοι — A contrastive construction with the copula (estí / eisí) omitted. It contrasts the two dominant cosmological views of the time: Epicurean atomistic randomness and dispersion (the former), and Stoic cosmic order and providence (the latter).
  2. §6.10.1τοῦ ὅπως ποτὲ ʽαἶα γίνεσθαιʼ — An anacoluthic construction where the genitive article toû forms a noun phrase appositive to állou tinòs ē ('anything other than'), followed by the indirect interrogative hópōs with the infinitive gínesthai. The word aîa is a poetic term for 'earth' or 'dust' (derived from Homer), representing human mortality.
  3. §6.10.1τῷ διοικοῦντι — Dative object governed by the verb tharrô ('to trust, have confidence in'). It is a substantivized present participle of dioikeîn ('to govern, manage'), referring to the divine reason (Logos or Providence) that rationally administers the universe.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §6.10.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.10.1

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