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Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §8.30.1

Speaking with Decorum and Sound Words without Affectation

Passage 301 of 486 · Greek

Summary

An exhortation to speak with decorum and without affectation, both in the senate and to anyone, using sound language.

§8.30.1Λαλεῖν καὶ ἐν συγκλήτῳ καὶ πρὸς πάνθ’ ὁντινοῦν κοσμίως, μὴ περιτράνως· ὑγιεῖ λόγῳ χρῆσθαι.
To speak both in the senate and to anyone whomsoever decently, not with affected refinement; to use sound speech.

Notes

  1. §8.30.1Λαλεῖν — An independent infinitive used in place of an imperative (imperative infinitive). The subsequent `χρῆσθαι` shares the same construction, expressing a self-directed precept.
  2. §8.30.1περιτράνως — The adverbial form of `περιτρανής` (extremely clear, overly refined). It suggests avoiding excessive rhetorical artifice or affected speech, rather than simply meaning "clearly."

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §8.30.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.30.1

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