Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.5.1

Assessing Capability and Cooperating for the Common Good

Passage 201 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author asks whether his own mind is sufficient for the task at hand; if not, he should either hand it over to a more capable person or work with someone who can utilize his ruling center, with all actions aiming solely at the common good and harmony.

§7.5.1Πότερον ἐξαρκεῖ ἡ διάνοιά μου πρὸς τοῦτο ἢ οὔ;
Does my mind suffice for this, or not?
εἰ μὲν ἐξαρκεῖ, χρῶμαι αὐτῇ πρὸς τὸ ἔργον ὡς ὀργάνῳ παρὰ τῆς τῶν ὅλων φύσεως δοθέντι.
If it suffices, I use it for the work as an instrument given by the nature of the whole.
εἰ δὲ μὴ ἐξαρκεῖ, ἤτοι παραχωρῶ τοῦ ἔργου τῷ δυναμένῳ κρεῖττον ἐπιτελέσαι, ἐὰν ἄλλως τοῦτο μὴ καθήκῃ, ἢ πράσσω ὡς δύναμαι, προσπαραλαβὼν τὸν δυνάμενον κατὰ πρόσχρησιν τοῦ ἐμοῦ ἡγεμονικοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ εἰς τὴν κοινωνίαν νῦν καίριον καὶ χρήσιμον.
But if it does not suffice, I either yield the work to one who is able to accomplish it better, if otherwise this is not my duty, or I do it as best I can, taking to assist me one who is able, by making use of my ruling center, to do what is now opportune and useful for the community.
ὅ τι γὰρ ἂν δι’ ἐμαυτοῦ ἢ σὺν ἄλλῳ ποιῶ, ὧδε μόνον χρὴ συντείνειν, εἰς τὸ κοινῇ χρήσιμον καὶ εὐάρμοστον.
For whatever I do, whether by myself or with another, must tend to this end alone: to what is useful and in harmony with the common interest.

Notes

  1. §7.5.1ἐὰν ἄλλως τοῦτο μὴ καθήκῃ — The adverb ἄλλως in the conditional clause is interpreted as 'otherwise' or 'for other reasons' (i.e., unless this is otherwise my duty). It introduces a reservation that yielding the task to another is permitted only if doing so does not conflict with one's own primary duty (καθῆκον).
  2. §7.5.1κατὰ πρόσχρησιν τοῦ ἐμοῦ ἡγεμονικοῦ — The noun πρόσχρησις means 'additional or auxiliary use' and takes the genitive τοῦ ἐμοῦ ἡγεμονικοῦ (my ruling center) as an objective genitive. This indicates that the assistant performs the action by making auxiliary use of the guidance or principles supplied by the author's own ruling faculty.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.5.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.5.1

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