Humanitext Reader

Marcus Aurelius · Meditations §9.27.1

Examining Critics' Souls and Showing Them Goodwill

Passage 359 of 486 · Greek

Summary

When faced with blame or hatred from others, one should examine their inner souls to see their true nature and realize there is no need to worry about their opinions, while still maintaining goodwill toward them as natural friends helped by the gods.

§9.27.1Ὅταν ἄλλος ψέγῃ σε ἢ μισῇ ἢ τοιαῦτά τινα ἐκφωνῶσιν, ἔρχου ἐπὶ τὰ ψυχάρια αὐτῶν, δίελθε ἔσω καὶ ἴδε ποῖοί τινές εἰσιν.
When another blames you or hates you, or they utter such things, go into their little souls, penetrate inside, and see what sort of people they are.
ὄψει ὅτι οὐ δεῖ σε σπᾶσθαι, ἵνα τούτοις τί ποτε περὶ σοῦ δοκῇ.
You will see that you do not need to trouble yourself so that they might hold some opinion or other about you.
εὐνοεῖν μέντοι αὐτοῖς δεῖ· φύσει γὰρ φίλοι, καὶ οἱ θεοὶ δὲ παντοίως αὐτοῖς βοηθοῦσι, δι’ ὀνείρων, διὰ μαντειῶν, πρὸς ταῦτα μέντοι, πρὸς ἃ ἐκεῖνοι διαφέρονται.
However, you must be well-disposed to them; for they are friends by nature, and even the gods help them in all kinds of ways, through dreams and prophecies, indeed for those very things about which they are concerned.

Notes

  1. 9.27.1ἐκφωνῶσιν — The verb ἐκφωνῶσιν is in the third-person plural, whereas the preceding subject ἄλλος is singular. This shift reflects a transition from a specific individual ('another') to a general group ('people'), representing a constructio ad sensum where the singular subject implies a plural category.
  2. 9.27.1σπᾶσθαι — The medio-passive infinitive of σπάω (to pull, tear). Here it is used in the sense of 'to torment oneself', 'to be anxious', or 'to be troubled'. Combined with the following ἵνα clause, it indicates that one should not tear oneself apart in anxiety over what opinion others might hold.
  3. 9.27.1διαφέρονται — The third-person plural present of διαφέρομαι. While it commonly means 'to differ' or 'to dispute', in this context it is interpreted as 'to be concerned with', 'to care about', or 'to pursue eagerly'. It implies that the gods assist humans precisely in those worldly matters that humans obsess over or value, reflecting the Stoic view of divine providence.

Cite this passage

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations §9.27.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0562.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:9.27.1

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