Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §6.6.1

The Best Revenge by Not Resembling the Wrongdoer

Passage 143 of 486 · Greek

Summary

It states that the best way to avenge a wrong or defend oneself is not to become like the wrongdoer.

§6.6.1Ἄριστος τρόπος τοῦ ἀμύνεσθαι τὸ μὴ ἐξομοιοῦσθαι.
The best way of avenging oneself is not to become like them.

Notes

  1. 6.6.1τοῦ ἀμύνεσθαι — The genitive articular infinitive of the middle voice of ἀμύνω, acting as an adnominal genitive modifying the noun τρόπος ("way of..."). The verb ἀμύνεσθαι means "to defend oneself" or "to avenge oneself".
  2. 6.6.1τὸ μὴ ἐξομοιοῦσθαι — The articular present middle/passive infinitive with the negative particle μὴ. It functions as the predicate nominative (or subject) in this sentence where the copula ἐστί is omitted. It means "not to make oneself like [the wrongdoer]" or "not to assimilate oneself".

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §6.6.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:6.6.1

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