Meditations — Page 12
It is probable that no Stoic claimed for himself that he was this Wise Man, but that each strove after it as an ideal much as the Christian strives after a likeness to Christ.
Il est probable qu'aucun stoïcien n'ait prétendu pour lui-même qu'il était ce Sage, mais que chacun s'en approchait comme d'un idéal, tout comme le chrétien s'efforce de ressembler au Christ.
The exaggeration in this statement was, however, so obvious, that the later Stoics were driven to make a further subdivision of things indifferent into what is preferable (προηγμένα) and what is undesirable (ἀποπροηγμένα).
L'exagération dans cette affirmation était cependant si évidente que les stoïciens tardifs furent amenés à établir une subdivision supplémentaire des choses indifférentes en ce qui est préférable (προηγμένα) et ce qui est indésirable (ἀποπροηγμένα).
They also held that for him who had not attained to the perfect wisdom, certain actions were proper. (καθήκοντα) These were neither virtuous nor vicious, but, like the indifferent things, held a middle place.
Ils soutenaient également que pour celui qui n'avait pas atteint la sagesse parfaite, certaines actions étaient convenables. (καθήκοντα) Celles-ci n'étaient ni vertueuses ni vicieuses, mais, comme les choses indifférentes, occupaient une place intermédiaire.
Two points in the Stoic system deserve special mention.
Deux points du système stoïcien méritent une mention particulière.
One is a careful distinction between things which are in our power and things which are not.
L'un est une distinction soigneuse entre les choses qui sont en notre pouvoir et celles qui ne le sont pas.
Desire and dislike, opinion and affection, are within the power of the will; whereas health, wealth, honour, and other such are generally not so.
Le désir et l'aversion, l'opinion et l'affection, sont au pouvoir de la volonté ; tandis que la santé, la richesse, l'honneur et autres choses semblables ne le sont généralement pas.
The Stoic was called upon to control his desires and affections, and to guide his opinion; to bring his whole being under the sway of the will or leading principle, just as the universe is guided and governed by divine Providence.
Le stoïcien était appelé à maîtriser ses désirs et ses affections, et à guider son opinion ; à soumettre tout son être à l'empire de la volonté ou du principe directeur, tout comme l'univers est guidé et gouverné par la divine Providence.
This is a special application of the favourite Greek virtue of moderation, (σωφροσύνη) and has also its parallel in Christian ethics.
C'est une application particulière de la vertu grecque favorite de la modération, (σωφροσύνη) et elle trouve également son parallèle dans l'éthique chrétienne.
The second point is a strong insistence on the unity of the universe, and on man's duty as part of a great whole.
Le second point est une insistance forte sur l'unité de l'univers, et sur le devoir de l'homme en tant que partie d'un grand tout.
Vocabulary
- probable
- pʁɔbabl — Likely to happen or be true
- aucun
- okœ̃ — No, none, not any; negation of quantity
- stoïcien
- stɔisjɛ̃ — Relating to or follower of Stoic philosophy
- ait
- ɛ — Subjunctive form of 'avoir', meaning 'has/have'
- prétendu
- pʁetɑ̃dy — Claimed or asserted, often without full justification
- même
- mɛm — Same, even, or itself; used for emphasis
- Sage
- saʒ — Wise person; ideal figure of wisdom and virtue
- chacun
- ʃakœ̃ — Each one, every person individually considered
- approchait
- apʁɔʃɛ — Imperfect of 'approcher', meaning 'was approaching'
- idéal
- ideal — An ideal; perfect standard one strives toward
- chrétien
- kʁetjɛ̃ — Christian; a person who follows Christianity
- efforce
- efɔʁs — Makes effort, strives; from verb 's'efforcer'
- ressembler
- ʁəsɑ̃ble — To resemble, to look or be like someone
- exagération
- ɛɡzaʒeʁasjɔ̃ — Exaggeration; overstating something beyond the truth
- affirmation
- afiʁmasjɔ̃ — Assertion, statement declared to be true
- cependant
- səpɑ̃dɑ̃ — However, nevertheless; used to introduce contrast
- évidente
- evidɑ̃t — Evident, obvious, clearly apparent to all
- stoïciens
- stɔisjɛ̃ — Stoics; followers of the ancient Stoic philosophy
- tardifs
- taʁdif — Late, later; referring to a later historical period
- furent
- fyʁ — Simple past of 'être', meaning 'were'
- amenés
- amne — Led, brought; past participle of 'amener'
- établir
- etabliʁ — To establish, set up, or create something formally
- subdivision
- sybdivizjɔ̃ — A subdivision; smaller division within a larger category
- supplémentaire
- syplemɑ̃tɛʁ — Additional, supplementary; extra beyond what exists
- indifférentes
- ɛ̃difeʁɑ̃t — Indifferent things; neither good nor bad in value
- préférable
- pʁefeʁabl — Preferable; worth choosing over other options
- indésirable
- ɛ̃dezirabl — Undesirable; not wanted or worth choosing
- soutenaient
- sutənɛ — Imperfect of 'soutenir', meaning 'maintained' or 'argued'
- également
- eɡalmɑ̃ — Also, equally, likewise; used to add information
- celui
- səlɥi — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'the one' or 'that one'
- atteint
- atɛ̃ — Past participle of 'atteindre', meaning 'reached' or 'attained'
- sagesse
- saʒɛs — Wisdom; quality of having good judgment and knowledge
- parfaite
- paʁfɛt — Perfect; complete, without flaw or deficiency
- certaines
- sɛʁtɛn — Certain, some; referring to specific unspecified things
- actions
- aksjɔ̃ — Actions; things done or performed by someone
- convenables
- kɔ̃vnabl — Appropriate, suitable, fitting for the circumstances
- Celles
- sɛl — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' for feminine plural
- ni
- ni — Neither, nor; used in negative correlative constructions
- vertueuses
- vɛʁtɥøz — Virtuous; having or showing moral virtue and goodness
- vicieuses
- visjøz — Vicious or corrupt; morally flawed or depraved
- occupaient
- ɔkypɛ — Imperfect of 'occuper', meaning 'occupied' or 'held'
- place
- plas — Place, position, or role within a system
- intermédiaire
- ɛ̃tɛʁmedjɛʁ — Intermediate; occupying a middle position between two extremes
- points
- pwɛ̃ — Points; specific aspects or elements worth noting
- système
- sistɛm — System; organized set of ideas, rules, or principles
- méritent
- meʁit — Deserve, merit; are worthy of attention or regard
- mention
- mɑ̃sjɔ̃ — Mention; a reference or note about something important
- particulière
- paʁtikyljɛʁ — Particular, special; distinct from others of its kind
- distinction
- distɛ̃ksjɔ̃ — Distinction; a difference or contrast between two things
- soigneuse
- swaɲøz — Careful, thorough, meticulous; done with great care
- pouvoir
- puvwaʁ — Power, ability, or the verb 'to be able to'
- celles
- sɛl — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those ones' feminine plural
- désir
- deziʁ — Desire; a strong feeling of wanting something
- aversion
- avɛʁsjɔ̃ — Aversion; a strong dislike or opposition toward something
- opinion
- ɔpinjɔ̃ — Opinion; a personal view or judgment about something
- affection
- afɛksjɔ̃ — Affection; a gentle feeling of fondness or liking
- volonté
- vɔlɔ̃te — Will, willpower; the faculty of making deliberate choices
- tandis
- tɑ̃di — While, whereas; used in 'tandis que' for contrast
- santé
- sɑ̃te — Health; the condition of the body and mind
- richesse
- ʁiʃɛs — Wealth, richness; abundance of money or valuable resources
- honneur
- ɔnœʁ — Honor; high respect or esteem held by others
- semblables
- sɑ̃blabl — Similar, alike; things that resemble one another
- généralement
- ʒeneʁalmɑ̃ — Generally, usually; in most cases or as a rule
- appelé
- aple — Called, named; past participle of 'appeler'
- maîtriser
- metʁize — To master, control, or bring under restraint
- désirs
- deziʁ — Desires, wishes; strong wants or cravings
- affections
- afɛksjɔ̃ — Affections; feelings of fondness and emotional attachments
- guider
- ɡide — To guide, lead, or direct someone toward a goal
- soumettre
- sumɛtʁ — To submit, to subject oneself to authority or force
- empire
- ɑ̃piʁ — Empire; dominion, rule, or supreme authority over others
- principe
- pʁɛ̃sip — Principle; a fundamental rule or guiding concept
- directeur
- diʁɛktœʁ — Director, guiding; one who directs or governs
- univers
- ynivɛʁ — Universe; the totality of all existing matter and space
- guidé
- ɡide — Guided, directed; past participle of 'guider'
- gouverné
- ɡuvɛʁne — Governed, ruled; past participle of 'gouverner'
- divine
- divin — Divine; relating to or coming from God or deity
- Providence
- pʁɔvidɑ̃s — Providence; divine guidance and care over creation
- application
- aplikasjɔ̃ — Application; the practical use of a concept or principle
- vertu
- vɛʁty — Virtue; moral excellence and righteous conduct
- grecque
- ɡʁɛk — Greek; relating to Greece, its culture or language
- favorite
- favɔʁit — Favorite; most preferred or highly regarded option
- modération
- mɔdeʁasjɔ̃ — Moderation; avoidance of extremes in behavior or opinion
- parallèle
- paʁalɛl — Parallel; a comparison showing similarity between two things
- éthique
- etik — Ethics; the branch of philosophy concerning moral principles
- chrétienne
- kʁetjɛn — Christian; relating to Christianity and its moral teaching
- point
- pwɛ̃ — Point; a specific idea or argument being made
- insistance
- ɛ̃sistɑ̃s — Insistence; persistent emphasis placed on something important
- forte
- fɔʁt — Strong, intense; of great force or emphasis
- unité
- ynite — Unity; the state of being united or forming a whole
- devoir
- dəvwaʁ — Duty, obligation; or the verb 'to have to'
- tant
- tɑ̃ — So much, as much; used in comparisons or expressions
- partie
- paʁti — Part; a portion or component of a larger whole
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