Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §8.39.1

Temperance against Pleasure and Natural Justice

Passage 310 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author points out that in the constitution of the rational being, there is no virtue that opposes justice, but there is self-control to restrain pleasure.

§8.39.1Δικαιοσύνης κατεξαναστατικὴν ἀρετὴν οὐχ ὁρῶ ἐν τῇ τοῦ λογικοῦ ζῴου κατασκευῇ, ἡδονῆς δὲ ὁρῶ τὴν ἐγκράτειαν.
I do not see in the constitution of the rational being any virtue that rises up against justice, but for pleasure, I see self-control.

Notes

  1. 8.39.1δικαιοσύνης κατεξαναστατικήν — The adjective κατεξαναστατικός (capable of rising up against) governs the genitive, which here is δικαιοσύνης (justice).
  2. 8.39.1ἡδονῆς ... τὴν ἐγκράτειαν — The genitive ἡδονῆς (of pleasure) is an objective genitive governed by ἐγκράτειαν (self-control), meaning "self-control over pleasure," which stands in contrast to the relationship in the first half of the sentence.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §8.39.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:8.39.1

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