Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.53.1

Safety from Harm in Actions Guided by Common Reason

Passage 249 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author explains that where actions are carried out according to the common reason and benefit is gained through activities aligned with one's constitution, there is nothing to fear and no harm to be suspected.

§7.53.1Ὅπου ἔργον ἐπιτελεῖσθαι δύναται κατὰ τὸν κοινὸν θεοῖς καὶ ἀνθρώποις λόγον, ἐκεῖ οὐδὲν δεινόν· ὅπου γὰρ ὠφελείας τυχεῖν ἔξεστι διὰ τῆς εὐοδούσης καὶ κατὰ τὴν κατασκευὴν προιούσης ἐνεργείας, ἐκεῖ οὐδεμίαν βλάβην ὑφορατέον.
Where a work can be accomplished according to the reason common to gods and men, there is nothing to fear; for where it is possible to obtain benefit through activity that goes well and proceeds according to one's constitution, there no harm is to be suspected.

Notes

  1. §7.53.1θεοῖς καὶ ἀνθρώποις — Dative of relation depending on the adjective κοινόν (common), meaning "common to gods and men."
  2. §7.53.1τῆς εὐοδούσης — Present active participle genitive feminine singular of the verb εὐοδόω (to make a good path, facilitate). Here it is used intransitively (or middle-passively) in the sense of "going well" or "progressing smoothly," modifying ἐνεργείας.
  3. §7.53.1ὑφορατέον — Verbal adjective of the transitive verb ὑφοράω (to look askance at, suspect, fear). Here it is used impersonally in the neuter singular, taking the accusative object οὐδεμίαν βλάβην (no harm), expressing the negation of necessity or obligation: "one must not suspect/fear any harm."

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.53.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.53.1

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