§7.71.1Γελοῖόν ἐστι τὴν μὲν ἰδίαν κακίαν μὴ φεύγειν, ὃ καὶ δυνατόν ἐστι, τὴν δὲ τῶν ἄλλων φεύγειν, ὅπερ ἀδύνατον.
It is ridiculous not to flee from one's own wickedness, which is indeed possible, but to flee from that of others, which is impossible.
Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §7.71.1
Fleeing One's Own Evil Rather Than That of Others
Summary
The author points out the absurdity of failing to avoid one's own wickedness, which is possible, while attempting to avoid the wickedness of others, which is impossible.
Notes
- §7.71.1ὃ — The antecedent is the infinitive phrase 'to flee from one's own wickedness' (τὴν ἰδίαν κακίαν φεύγειν) understood from the preceding clause without the negative μὴ. It asserts that avoiding one's own vice is within one's power (δυνατόν).
- §7.71.1τὴν δὲ τῶν ἄλλων — A noun phrase with the adversative δέ. The noun κακίαν (wickedness) is omitted between the article τὴν and the genitive τῶν ἄλλων, establishing a contrast with the preceding τὴν μὲν ἰδίαν κακίαν.
Cite this passage
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §7.71.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:7.71.1
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