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Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.4.1

Discerning the Meaning of Words and Purpose of Actions

Passage 200 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author urges immediately discerning the meaning behind words and the motives and purposes behind actions.

§7.4.1Δεῖ κατὰ λέξιν παρακολουθεῖν τοῖς λεγομένοις καὶ καθ’ ἑκάστην ὁρμὴν τοῖς γινομένοις, καὶ ἐπὶ μὲν τοῦ ἑτέρου εὐθὺς ὁρᾶν ἐπὶ τίνα σκοπὸν ἡ ἀναφορά, ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ ἑτέρου παραφυλάσσειν τί τὸ σημαινόμενον.
One must follow word by word what is being said, and in accordance with each impulse what is being done; and in the case of the one, immediately see to what end its reference is made, and in the case of the other, observe what is its meaning.

Notes

  1. 7.4.1τοῦ ἑτέρου ... τοῦ ἑτέρου — The two instances of τοῦ ἑτέρου refer back to the two preceding elements, namely 'what is being said' (τοῖς λεγομένοις) and 'what is being done' (τοῖς γινομένοις). In context, the first ἕτερος, associated with the end/aim (σκοπός), refers to 'what is being done' (and its accompanying impulse), while the second ἕτερος, associated with the meaning (σημαινόμενον), refers to 'what is being said'.
  2. 7.4.1καθ’ ἑκάστην ὁρμὴν — Meaning 'in accordance with each impulse (or inclination to action)'. It stands in contrast with the preceding κατὰ λέξιν (word by word), functioning as an adverbial phrase modifying the omitted verb παρακολουθεῖν (to follow closely) as it applies to τοῖς γινομένοις (what is being done).

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.4.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.4.1

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