§7.59.1Ἔνδον σκάπτε, ἔνδον ἡ πηγὴ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ καὶ ἀεὶ ἀναβλύειν δυναμένη, ἐὰν ἀεὶ σκάπτῃς.
Dig within. Within is the fountain of good, and it is always able to bubble up, if you always dig.
Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.59.1
The Fountain of Good Found by Looking Inward
Summary
Explains that only by digging within oneself can the fountain of goodness be made to bubble up constantly.
Notes
- §7.59.1δυναμένη — A present participle in the nominative feminine singular, modifying the subject `ἡ πηγὴ`. The copula `ἐστί` is omitted in this clause, leaving the participle to function predicatively.
- §7.59.1ἐὰν ἀεὶ σκάπτῃς — A conditional clause consisting of the conjunction `ἐάν` and the present active subjunctive second person singular `σκάπτῃς`. It denotes a general condition or a future expectation, with the present tense emphasizing the continuous act of digging.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.59.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.59.1
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