Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §6.44.1-6.44.2

Accepting Divine Providence and Duties as a World Citizen

Passage 181 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author argues that whether the gods care for us individually or only order the cosmos as a whole, our fate must be accepted. As rational and social beings, humans must act for the common good of both their particular city (Rome) and the universe.

§6.44.1Εἰ μὲν οὖν ἐβουλεύσαντο περὶ ἐμοῦ καὶ τῶν ἐμοὶ συμβῆναι ὀφειλόντων οἱ θεοί, καλῶς ἐβουλεύσαντο· ἄβουλον γὰρ θεὸν οὐδὲ ἐπινοῆσαι ῥᾴδιον, κακοποιῆσαι δέ με διὰ τίνα αἰτίαν ἔμελλον ὁρμᾶν;
If indeed the gods took counsel about me and what must happen to me, they took counsel well; for it is not easy even to conceive of a god without purpose, and for what reason would they be impelled to do me harm?
τί γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἢ τῷ κοινῷ, οὗ μάλιστα προνοοῦνται, ἐκ τούτου περιεγένετο;
For what advantage would accrue from this to them or to the common wealth, for which they take thought above all?
εἰ δὲ μὴ ἐβουλεύσαντο κατ’ ἰδίαν περὶ ἐμοῦ, περί γε τῶν κοινῶν πάντως ἐβουλεύσαντο, οἷς κατ’ ἐπακολούθησιν καὶ ταῦτα συμβαίνοντα ἀσπάζεσθαι καὶ στέργειν ὀφείλω.
But if they did not take counsel about me individually, they certainly did take counsel about common things, and what happens to me as a consequence of these I ought to welcome and embrace.
§6.44.2εἰ δʼ ἄρα περὶ μηδενὸς βουλεύονται (πιστεύειν μὲν οὐχ ὅσιον ἢ μηδὲ θύωμεν μηδὲ εὐχώμεθα μηδὲ ὀμνύωμεν μηδὲ τὰ ἄλλα πράσσωμεν ἃ παρ’ ἕκαστα ὡς πρὸς παρόντας καὶ συμβιοῦντας τοὺς θεοὺς πράσσομεν), εἰ δ’ ἄρα περὶ μηδενὸς τῶν καθ’ ἡμᾶς βουλεύονται, ἐμοὶ μὲν ἔξεστι περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ βουλεύεσθαι, ἐμοὶ δέ ἐστι σκέψις περὶ τοῦ συμφέροντος.
But if indeed they take counsel about nothing (a belief which is impious, or else let us not sacrifice, nor pray, nor swear oaths, nor perform the other things which we do in each case as if in the presence of the gods and living with them)—but if indeed they take counsel about none of our affairs, it is permitted to me to take counsel for myself, and I have the power of inquiry about what is useful.
συμφέρει δὲ ἑκάστῳ τὸ κατὰ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ κατασκευὴν καὶ φύσιν, ἡ δὲ ἐμὴ φύσις λογικὴ καὶ πολιτική.
And what is useful to each is that which is in accordance with his own constitution and nature; and my nature is rational and social.
Πόλις καὶ πατρὶς ὡς μὲν Ἀντωνίνῳ μοι ἡ Ῥώμη, ὡς δὲ ἀνθρώπῳ ὁ κόσμος.
As Antoninus, my city and fatherland is Rome; but as a man, it is the universe.
τὰ ταῖς πόλεσιν οὖν ταύταις ὠφέλιμα μόνα ἐστί μοι ἀγαθά.
Therefore, only what is beneficial to these cities is good for me.

Notes

  1. §6.44.1ἄβουλον — Meaning 'without counsel' or 'without purpose.' It points to the impossibility of conceiving a god who lacks rational providence (pronoia) over the cosmos.
  2. §6.44.1οἷς κατ’ ἐπακολούθησιν — 'As a consequence of which.' This refers to the Stoic concept of 'concomitant consequence' (katakolouthesis), explaining how individual events follow of necessity from the providential ordering established for the whole cosmos.
  3. §6.44.2πιστεύειν μὲν οὐχ ὅσιον ἢ μηδὲ θύωμεν — The infinitive `πιστεύειν` refers back to the hypothesis that the gods take counsel about nothing. The conjunction `ἤ` is used in the sense of 'otherwise,' introducing the subsequent hortatory subjunctives of prohibition (`μηδὲ θύωμεν`, etc.).
  4. §6.44.2ὡς μὲν Ἀντωνίνῳ μοι — The dative `Ἀντωνίνῳ μοι` functions as a dative of relation ('for me as Antoninus'). It is contrasted with `ὡς δὲ ἀνθρώπῳ` ('as a man') to express his dual identity: belonging to a particular state (Rome) and to the universal community of the cosmos.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §6.44.1-6.44.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.44.1-6.44.2

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