Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §9.11.1

Patience with Others and the Indulgence of the Gods

Passage 343 of 486 · Greek

Summary

The author advises that if one cannot instruct and correct others, one must show indulgence, noting that even the gods are indulgent and cooperative toward humans, and urges oneself to do the same.

§9.11.1Εἰ μὲν δύνασαι, μεταδίδασκε· εἰ δὲ μή, μέμνησο ὅτι πρὸς τοῦτο ἡ εὐμένειά σοι δέδοται.
If you can, teach them better; but if you cannot, remember that indulgence was given to you for this purpose.
καὶ οἱ θεοὶ δὲ εὐμενεῖς τοῖς τοιούτοις εἰσίν, εἰς ἔνια δὲ καὶ συνεργοῦσιν, εἰς ὑγίειαν, εἰς πλοῦτον, εἰς δόξαν· οὕτως εἰσὶ χρηστοί.
Even the gods are indulgent to such persons, and for some purposes they even cooperate with them, in physical health, in wealth, in reputation; so gracious are they.
ἔξεστι δὲ καὶ σοί· ἢ εἰπέ, τίς ὁ κωλύων;
And it is in your power to do the same; or say, who is there to prevent you?

Notes

  1. §9.11.1μεταδίδασκε — A transitive verb where the object (such as 'those who err') is omitted. It means 'to teach better' or 'to instruct differently'.
  2. §9.11.1πρὸς τοῦτο — Neuter singular accusative of the demonstrative pronoun. In response to 'if you cannot' (εἰ δὲ μή) in the immediate context, it refers to the purpose of 'showing indulgence (ἡ εὐμένεια) to those who cannot be taught better'.
  3. §9.11.1ἔξεστι δὲ καὶ σοί — The construction features the impersonal verb ἔξεστι ('it is possible', 'it is permitted') with the dative σοί ('to you'). An infinitive such as 'to be indulgent' (εὐμενεῖ εἶναι) is understood from the context as the logical subject.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §9.11.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.11.1

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