Marcus Aurelius -- Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 2, ch. 2 (2.2) (AD 161-180) [tr. Staniforth (1964)]

Dave — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 21:06:59 +0000

A little flesh, a little breath, and a Reason to rule all — that is myself.

[Ὅ τί ποτε τοῦτό εἰμι, σαρκία ἐστὶ καὶ πνευμάτιον καὶ τὸ ἡγεμονικόν.]

Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 2, ch. 2 (2.2) (AD 161-180) [tr. Staniforth (1964)]
(Source)

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

Whatsoever I am, is either flesh, or life, or that which we commonly call the mistress and overruling part of man; reason.
[tr. Casaubon (1634), 1.16]

This Being of mine, all that's on't, consists of Body, Breath, and that Part which governs.
[tr. Collier (1701)]

Whatsoever I am, is either this poor flesh, or the animal spirit, or the governing part.
[tr. Hutcheson/Moor (1742)]

This whole person of mine, whatever I may think of it, consists only of a body, the vital spirit, and the rational soul or governing principle.
[tr. Graves (1792)]

Whatever this is that I am, it is a little flesh and breath, and the ruling part.
[tr. Long (1862)]

This being of mine, all there is of it, consists of flesh, breaht, and the ruling part.
[tr. Collier/Zimmern (1887)]

Flesh, breath, and the Inner Self -- that is all.
[tr. Rendall (1898)]

All that I am is either flesh, breath, or the ruling part.
[tr. Hutcheson/Chrystal (1902)]

This that I am, whatever it be, is mere flesh and a little breath and the ruling Reason.
[tr. Haines (Loeb) (1916)]

This whatever it is that I am, is flesh and vital spirit and the governing self.
[tr. Farquharson (1944)]

This thing, whate4ver it is, that I am, is mere flesh, and some breath, and the governing faculty.
[tr. Hard (1997 ed.)]

Whatever this is that I am, it is flesh and a little spirit and an intelligence.
[tr. Hays (2003)]

Whatever it is, this being of mine is made up of flesh, breath, and directing mind.
[tr. Hammond (2006)]

Whatever it is that I am is flesh and a bit of breath and the ruling centre.
[tr. Hard (2011 ed.)]

What makes up this being of mine is flesh, and a bit of breath, and the ruling centre.
[tr. Gill (2013)]

All you are is a little flesh, a little breath, and whatever it is that rules these things.
[tr. McNeill (2019)]

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Epistulae ad Atticum [Letters to Atticus], Book 9, Letter 10, sec. 3 (9.10.3) (49 BC) [tr. Shackleton Bailey (1968), # 177]

Dave — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 20:30:59 +0000

There is said to be hope for a sick man, as long as there is life.

[Ut aegroto dum anima est, spes esse dicitur.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Epistulae ad Atticum [Letters to Atticus], Book 9, Letter 10, sec. 3 (9.10.3) (49 BC) [tr. Shackleton Bailey (1968), # 177]
(Source)

Cicero says this was his feeling of hope for how things would turn out, as long as Pompey was in Italy -- which he had just evacuated from. Cicero makes it clear this is a common phrase at the time, usually expressed more straightforwardly as "While there is life there is hope" [Dum anima est, spes est.]

(Source (Latin)). Alternate translations:

But as we say of sick people, "while there is life there is hope."
[tr. Jeans (1880), # 63]

As in the case of a sick man one says, "While there is life there is hope."
[tr. Shuckburgh (1900), # 364]

As a sick man is said to have hope, so long as he has breath.
[tr. Winstedt (Loeb) (1913)]

WIST Quotations

Marcus Aurelius -- Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 2, ch. 2 (2.2) (AD 161-180) [tr. Staniforth (1964)]

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Epistulae ad Atticum [Letters to Atticus], Book 9, Letter 10, sec. 3 (9.10.3) (49 BC) [tr. Shackleton Bailey (1968), # 177]