Meditations — Page 15
The petty annoyances of injustice or unkindness are looked on by each with the same magnanimity.
Les petites contrariétés de l'injustice ou de la méchanceté sont considérées par chacun avec la même magnanimité.
'Why doth a little thing said or done against thee make thee sorry?
« Pourquoi une petite chose dite ou faite contre toi te rend-elle triste ?
It is no new thing; it is not the first, nor shall it be the last, if thou live long.
Ce n'est pas une chose nouvelle ; ce n'est pas la première, et ce ne sera pas la dernière, si tu vis longtemps.
At best suffer patiently, if thou canst not suffer joyously.'
Au mieux, souffre patiemment, si tu ne peux pas souffrir avec joie. »
The Christian should sorrow more for other men's malice than for our own wrongs; but the Roman is inclined to wash his hands of the offender.
Le chrétien devrait s'affliger davantage de la malice des autres hommes que de ses propres torts ; mais le Romain est enclin à se laver les mains de l'offenseur.
'Study to be patient in suffering and bearing other men's defaults and all manner infirmities,' says the Christian; but the Roman would never have thought to add, 'If all men were perfect, what had we then to suffer of other men for God?'
« Apprenez à être patient dans la souffrance et le support des défauts des autres hommes et de toutes sortes d'infirmités », dit le chrétien ; mais le Romain n'aurait jamais pensé à ajouter : « Si tous les hommes étaient parfaits, qu'aurions-nous alors à souffrir des autres hommes pour Dieu ? »
The virtue of suffering in itself is an idea which does not meet us in the _Meditations_.
La vertu de la souffrance en elle-même est une idée que nous ne rencontrons pas dans les _Méditations_.
Both alike realise that man is one of a great community.
L'un et l'autre reconnaissent que l'homme fait partie d'une grande communauté.
'No man is sufficient to himself,' says the Christian; 'we must bear together, help together, comfort together.'
« Nul homme ne se suffit à lui-même », dit le chrétien ; « nous devons porter ensemble, aider ensemble, nous réconforter ensemble. »
But while he sees a chief importance in zeal, in exalted emotion that is, and avoidance of lukewarmness, the Roman thought mainly of the duty to be done as well as might be, and less of the feeling which should go with the doing of it.
Mais tandis que le chrétien accorde une importance primordiale au zèle, c'est-à-dire à l'émotion exaltée, et au rejet de la tiédeur, le Romain pensait surtout au devoir à accomplir du mieux possible, et moins au sentiment qui devrait accompagner son accomplissement.
To the saint as to the emperor, the world is a poor thing at best.
Pour le saint comme pour l'empereur, le monde n'est au mieux qu'une chose médiocre.
Vocabulary
- petites
- Small or minor, feminine plural adjective.
- contrariétés
- Minor annoyances or frustrations encountered in daily life.
- injustice
- Unfair treatment or violation of someone's rights.
- méchanceté
- Malice or spitefulness; the quality of being mean.
- considérées
- Regarded or viewed, feminine plural past participle.
- chacun
- Each one or everyone, an indefinite pronoun.
- même
- Same or even; used for emphasis or equality.
- magnanimité
- Generosity of spirit; nobility in forgiving others' faults.
- petite
- Small or little, feminine singular adjective.
- chose
- A thing or object; general noun for any item.
- dite
- Said, feminine past participle of the verb 'dire.'
- faite
- Done, feminine past participle of the verb 'faire.'
- contre
- Preposition meaning 'against' in French.
- rend
- Third-person singular of 'rendre,' meaning 'makes' or 'renders.'
- triste
- Sad or sorrowful; describing a low emotional state.
- nouvelle
- New or a short story; feminine form of 'nouveau.'
- première
- First, feminine form; occurring before all others.
- sera
- Future tense of 'être,' meaning 'will be.'
- dernière
- Last or final; feminine form of 'dernier.'
- vis
- Second-person singular of 'vivre,' meaning 'you live.'
- longtemps
- For a long time; referring to extended duration.
- mieux
- Better or best; comparative/superlative of 'bien.'
- souffre
- Suffers or endures; second/third person of 'souffrir.'
- patiemment
- Patiently; in a calm and tolerant manner.
- souffrir
- To suffer or endure pain or hardship.
- joie
- Joy or delight; a feeling of great happiness.
- chrétien
- A Christian; one who follows the teachings of Christ.
- devrait
- Conditional of 'devoir,' meaning 'should' or 'ought to.'
- affliger
- To grieve or distress; to feel or cause great sorrow.
- davantage
- More; to a greater degree or extent.
- malice
- Malice or ill will; desire to harm or cause trouble.
- autres
- Others; the remaining people or things.
- hommes
- Men or humans; plural of 'homme.'
- propres
- Own or clean; emphasizing personal possession or cleanliness.
- torts
- Wrongs or faults; actions that are unjust or mistaken.
- Romain
- Roman; a person from or relating to ancient Rome.
- enclin
- Inclined or prone; having a tendency toward something.
- laver
- To wash; to clean oneself or an object with water.
- mains
- Hands; the body part at the end of the arm.
- offenseur
- Offender; one who commits an offense against another.
- Apprenez
- Imperative plural of 'apprendre,' meaning 'learn' or 'teach.'
- patient
- Patient; able to wait calmly without frustration.
- souffrance
- Suffering or pain; state of enduring hardship or distress.
- support
- Bearing or endurance; tolerating difficulties or people's faults.
- défauts
- Faults or flaws; shortcomings in character or quality.
- toutes
- All, feminine plural form of 'tout.'
- sortes
- Sorts or kinds; varieties or types of things.
- infirmités
- Infirmities or weaknesses; physical or moral frailties.
- dit
- Said; third-person singular past tense of 'dire.'
- aurait
- Conditional of 'avoir,' meaning 'would have.'
- jamais
- Never or ever; used in negative or emphatic contexts.
- pensé
- Thought; past participle of 'penser,' to think.
- ajouter
- To add; to include something additional to a statement.
- tous
- All or everyone; masculine plural of 'tout.'
- étaient
- Imperfect of 'être,' meaning 'were' in past context.
- parfaits
- Perfect; without flaw, masculine plural adjective.
- aurions
- Conditional plural of 'avoir,' meaning 'we would have.'
- alors
- Then or so; used to indicate consequence or timing.
- Dieu
- God; the supreme being in monotheistic religions.
- vertu
- Virtue; moral excellence and righteous behavior.
- idée
- Idea or thought; a concept formed in the mind.
- rencontrons
- We encounter or meet; first-person plural of 'rencontrer.'
- Méditations
- Meditations; reflective writings, notably Marcus Aurelius's work.
- autre
- Other or another; referring to a different person or thing.
- reconnaissent
- Recognize or acknowledge; third-person plural of 'reconnaître.'
- homme
- Man or human being; an adult male person.
- fait
- Makes or does; also 'fact,' third-person singular of 'faire.'
- partie
- Part or portion; being a member of a larger whole.
- grande
- Great or large; feminine form of the adjective 'grand.'
- communauté
- Community; a group of people sharing common interests or place.
- Nul
- No one or none; an indefinite negative pronoun.
- suffit
- Suffices or is enough; third-person singular of 'suffire.'
- devons
- We must; first-person plural of 'devoir,' expressing obligation.
- porter
- To carry or bear; to transport or support something.
- ensemble
- Together; as a group or in unison.
- aider
- To help or assist someone with a task or difficulty.
- réconforter
- To comfort or console; to ease someone's distress.
- tandis
- While or whereas; used in 'tandis que' for contrast.
- accorde
- Grants or accords; third-person singular of 'accorder.'
- importance
- Importance; the quality of being significant or noteworthy.
- primordiale
- Primordial or paramount; of the greatest importance or priority.
- zèle
- Zeal; great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause.
- dire
- To say or tell; basic verb of speech and communication.
- émotion
- Emotion; a strong feeling such as joy or sadness.
- exaltée
- Exalted or elated; intensely excited or elevated in spirit.
- rejet
- Rejection; the act of refusing or dismissing something.
- tiédeur
- Lukewarmness; lack of enthusiasm or half-hearted commitment.
- pensait
- Was thinking; third-person imperfect of 'penser.'
- surtout
- Above all or especially; used to emphasize priority.
- devoir
- Duty or obligation; also the verb 'must' or 'to owe.'
- accomplir
- To accomplish or fulfill; to complete a task or duty.
- possible
- Possible; able to be done or achieved.
- moins
- Less or fewer; comparative adverb indicating reduction.
- sentiment
- Feeling or sentiment; an emotional state or opinion.
- accompagner
- To accompany or go along with someone or something.
- accomplissement
- Accomplishment or fulfillment; completion of a goal or duty.
- saint
- Saint; a holy person recognized for exceptional virtue.
- empereur
- Emperor; the ruler of an empire with supreme authority.
- monde
- World or people; referring to the earth or society.
- médiocre
- Mediocre; of only average quality, neither good nor bad.
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