Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.16.1

Self-Sufficiency of the Ruling Center and Immunity to Pain

Passage 212 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author argues that the ruling center does not inherently disturb itself with fear or desire, and that physical suffering does not harm the soul itself, emphasizing the self-sufficiency of the rational mind.

§7.16.1Τὸ ἡγεμονικὸν αὐτὸ ἑαυτῷ οὐκ ἐνοχλεῖ, οἷον λέγω, οὐ φοβεῖ ἑαυτὸ εἰς ἐπιθυμίαν.
The ruling center does not trouble itself; for example, I mean, it does not frighten itself or lead itself into desire.
εἰ δέ τις ἄλλος αὐτὸ φοβῆσαι ἢ λυπῆσαι δύναται, ποιείτω· αὐτὸ γὰρ ἑαυτὸ ὑποληπτικῶς οὐ τρέψει εἰς τοιαύτας τροπάς.
If any other thing can frighten it or grieve it, let it do so; for it will not, by means of opinion, turn itself into such turnings.
τὸ σωμάτιον μὴ πάθῃ τι, αὐτὸ μεριμνάτω, εἰ δύναται, καὶ λεγέτω, εἴ τι πάσχει· τὸ δὲ ψυχάριον τὸ φοβούμενον, τὸ λυπούμενον, τὸ περὶ τούτων ὅλως ὑπολαμβάνον, οὐδὲν μὴ πάθῃ· οὐ γὰρ ἄξεις αὐτὸ εἰς κρίσιν τοιαύτην.
Let the paltry body take care, if it can, lest it suffer anything, and let it speak if it suffers anything; but the paltry soul, which is afraid, which grieves, which altogether forms opinions about these things, will suffer nothing, for you will not lead it into such a judgment.
ἀπροσδεές ἐστιν ὅσον ἐφ’ ἑαυτῷ τὸ ἡγεμονικόν, ἐὰν μὴ ἑαυτῷ ἔνδειαν ποιῇ· κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὲ καὶ ἀτάραχον καὶ ἀνεμπόδιστον, ἐὰν μὴ ἑαυτὸ ταράσσῃ καὶ ἐμποδίζῃ.
The ruling center is without needs, so far as depends on itself, unless it makes a need for itself; and in the same way it is untroubled and unobstructed, unless it troubles and obstructs itself.

Notes

  1. §7.16.1οὐ φοβεῖ ἑαυτὸ εἰς ἐπιθυμίαν — Some manuscripts and editions assume a lacuna such as <οὐκ ἄγει ἑαυτὸ> after οὐ φοβεῖ ἑαυτό. Here, following the provided text, it is interpreted as a single continuous negative action: "does not frighten itself or [lead itself] into desire."
  2. §7.16.1τὸ σωμάτιον μὴ πάθῃ τι, αὐτὸ μεριμνάτω — The clause μὴ πάθῃ τι (lest it suffer anything) with the subjunctive functions as a noun clause representing the object/content of the imperative μεριμνάτω (let it take care/worry).
  3. §7.16.1οὐδὲν μὴ πάθῃ — This is a standard Classical Greek construction of emphatic negative future assertion (οὐ μή + aorist subjunctive), meaning "will certainly suffer nothing" or "shall by no means suffer."
  4. §7.16.1οὐ γὰρ ἄξεις — The verb ἄξεις (second-person singular future of ἄγω) is an address directed by the author to the reader or to his own self/reason, meaning "for you will not lead [it into such a judgment]."

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.16.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.16.1

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Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.