Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.20.1

Guarding Against Actions Contrary to Human Nature

Passage 216 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author states that the only thing which distracts or worries him is the fear of doing something contrary to the constitution of man, either in substance, manner, or time.

§7.20.1Ἐμὲ ἓν μόνον περισπᾷ, μή τι αὐτὸς ποιήσω, ὃ ἡ κατασκευὴ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐ θέλει ἢ ὡς οὐ θέλει ἢ ὃ νῦν οὐ θέλει.
Only one thing distracts me, lest I myself should do something which the constitution of man does not will, or in a way which it does not will, or which it does not now will.

Notes

  1. §7.20.1μή τι αὐτὸς ποιήσω — The construction of μή with the subjunctive (ποιήσω, first-person singular aorist active subjunctive) expressing apprehension or concern, following the verb περισπᾷ (distracts, worries). It means 'lest I myself should do something...' and explains the content of the worry.
  2. §7.20.1ὡς οὐ θέλει — The relative adverb ὡς expresses manner or method, contrasted with the preceding relative pronoun ὃ (whose antecedent is τι, the object of ποιήσω). It means 'in a manner which the constitution of man does not will.'

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.20.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.20.1

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