Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.69.1

Perfection of Character as Living Each Day as the Last

Passage 265 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The perfection of character is described as living each day as if it were the last, without excitement, torpor, or insincerity.

§7.69.1Τοῦτο ἔχει ἡ τελειότης τοῦ ἤθους, τὸ πᾶσαν ἡμέραν ὡς τελευταίαν διεξάγειν καὶ μήτε σφύζειν μήτε ναρκᾶν μήτε ὑποκρίνεσθαι.
This is what perfection of character possesses: to spend each day as if it were the last, and to be neither agitated, nor sluggish, nor insincere.

Notes

  1. §7.69.1Τοῦτο ... τὸ ... διεξάγειν — The pronoun Τοῦτο anticipates the following articular infinitive phrase τὸ ... διεξάγειν ... in apposition.
  2. §7.69.1σφύζειν μήτε ναρκᾶν μήτε ὑποκρίνεσθαι — All three infinitives are governed by the article τὸ. The verb σφύζειν ('to throb', 'to be agitated') refers to excessive emotional frenzy, whereas ναρκᾶν ('to be numb', 'to be sluggish') refers to apathy or torpor. These two represent opposite extremes, while the final ὑποκρίνεσθαι ('to play a part', 'to dissemble') warns against lack of sincerity.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.69.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.69.1

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