Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §6.22.1

Focusing on One's Duty Unmoved by External Distractions

Passage 159 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author states that he focuses on doing his own duty and is not distracted by other things, as they are either inanimate, irrational, or simply misled and ignorant.

§6.22.1Ἐγὼ τὸ ἐμαυτοῦ καθῆκον ποιῶ, τὰ ἄλλα με οὐ περισπᾷ·

I do my own duty; other things do not distract me.

ἤτοι γὰρ ἄψυχα ἢ ἄλογα ἢ πεπλανημένα καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν ἀγνοοῦντα.

For they are either inanimate, or irrational, or misled and ignorant of the way.

Notes

§6.22.1ἤτοι γὰρ ἄψυχα ἢ ἄλογα ἢ πεπλανημένα καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν ἀγνοοῦντα — The subject `τὰ ἄλλα` (other things) is supplied from the preceding clause, and the copula `ἐστί` (or `εἰσί`) is omitted. The adjectives `ἄψυχα` and `ἄλογα`, along with the participles `πεπλανημένα` and `ἀγνοοῦντα`, are all neuter plural nominative, agreeing with the subject and functioning as predicates. The conjunction `καί` links the final two participles (the perfect passive `πεπλανημένα` and the present active `ἀγνοοῦντα`) to form a single third category: 'misled and ignorant of the way.'

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §6.22.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.22.1

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