Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.58.1

Using Circumstances as Material for Good Action

Passage 254 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author urges the reader to recall those who complained about similar past events, advising not to follow their example but to focus entirely on utilizing occurrences as material for good action and to mind only one's own conduct.

§7.58.1Ἐφ’ ἑκάστου συμβάματος ἐκείνους πρὸ ὀμμάτων ἔχειν, οἷς τὰ αὐτὰ συνέβαινεν, ἔπειτα ἤχθοντο, ἐξενίζοντο, ἐμέμφοντο·
Upon each occurrence, keep before your eyes those to whom the same things happened, and who then were vexed, astonished, and complained.
νῦν οὗν ἐκεῖνοι ποῦ;
Where then are they now?
οὐδαμοῦ.
Nowhere.
τί οὖν;
What then?
καὶ σὺ θέλεις ὁμοίως;
Do you also wish to be like them?
οὐχὶ δὲ τὰς μὲν ἀλλοτρίας τροπὰς καταλιπεῖν τοῖς τρέπουσι καὶ τρεπομένοις, αὐτὸς δὲ περὶ τὸ πῶς χρῆσθαι αὐτοῖς ὅλος γίνεσθαι;
Why not rather leave those foreign turnings to those who turn and are turned, and yourself be wholly occupied with how to make use of them?
χρήσῃ γὰρ καλῶς καὶ ὕλη σοι ἔσται, μόνον πρόσεχε καὶ θέλε σεαυτῷ καλὸς εἶναι ἐπὶ παντός, οὖ πράσσεις, καὶ μέμνησο ἀμφοτέρων, ὅτι καὶ διάφορον ἐφ’ οὗ ἡ πρᾶξις.
For you will use them well, and they will be material for you; only pay attention and desire to be good to yourself in everything that you do; and remember both: that [your action itself matters], and that that upon which your action is directed is indifferent.

Notes

  1. 7.58.1ἔχειν — Infinitive used independently with an imperative force (imperative infinitive). The subsequent infinitives καταλιπεῖν and γίνεσθαι function similarly as commands or exhortations to the reader.
  2. 7.58.1ἀμφοτέρων — Genitive meaning 'both things.' While the subsequent ὅτι clause explicitly mentions only that 'that upon which the action is directed is indifferent (διάφορον),' the word ἀμφοτέρων implies a contrast between the two elements: the action itself (from the preceding πράσσεις) and the object of the action, or the twin truths that the action must be good and its material is indifferent.
  3. 7.58.1διάφορον — A Stoic technical term (adiaphoron, meaning 'indifferent'). It refers to external circumstances or objects that are morally neither good nor bad. Here, the neuter singular adjective functions as a predicate, meaning 'that upon which the action is spent is indifferent.'

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.58.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.58.1

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