Standing Upright on One's Own Rather Than Being Set Right

Notes

1. §7.12.1Ὀρθός, μὴ ὀρθούμενος — The adjective ὀρθός (upright) and the present passive participle ὀρθούμενος (being set upright) are juxtaposed, with the second-person imperative of the copula (ἴσθι) being omitted to form a concise hortatory statement. This parallels Meditations 3.5: "one must stand upright, not be kept upright" (ὀρθὸν οὖν εἶναι χρή, οὐχὶ ὀρθούμενον), which contrasts active self-reliance with passive correction. The use of the negative particle μή rather than οὐ reflects the conditional or imperative quality of the participle.