Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §6.49.1

Accepting One's Allotted Lifespan and Substance

Passage 186 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author argues that just as one does not complain about their physical weight, one should not complain about the lifespan allotted to them, but rather accept the designated amount of both substance and time.

§6.49.1Μήτι δυσχεραίνεις ὅτι τοσῶνδέ τινων λιτρῶν εἶ καὶ οὐ τριακοσίων;
Are you dissatisfied because you are of such and such a weight in litras and not three hundred?
οὕτω δὴ καὶ ὅτι μέχρι τοσῶνδε ἐτῶν βιωτέον σοι καὶ οὐ μέχρι πλείονος· ὥσπερ γὰρ τῆς οὐσίας ὅσον ἀφώρισταί σοι στέργεις, οὕτως καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ χρόνου.
So then, neither should you be because you must live up to such and such a number of years and no longer; for just as you are content with the amount of substance allotted to you, so you should be also with regard to time.

Notes

  1. §6.49.1τοσῶνδέ τινων λιτρῶν εἶ — The genitive plural λιτρῶν functions as a genitive of quality or measure, serving as the predicate of the copula εἶ. It means 'to be of such and such a weight (in litras)'. 'Litra' corresponds to the Roman weight unit 'libra' (pound), here referring to the physical mass or weight of the human body.
  2. §6.49.1βιωτέον σοι — The verbal adjective βιωτέον (impersonal neuter singular of βιόω) is combined with the dative of agent σοι, expressing necessity or obligation: 'you must live' or 'it is to be lived by you'.
  3. §6.49.1τῆς οὐσίας — Although οὐσία is often translated as 'property' or 'wealth', in this context it corresponds to the physical weight (λιτρῶν) mentioned in the previous clause, and is thus best understood as the physical 'substance' or 'matter' that constitutes the individual's body.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §6.49.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.49.1

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