Σωφροσύνη

moderation, temperance

Translated by Marcelo Boeri21 Jul 2003Vetting: high6 revisions

4 notes · 157 words
Some people define this metaphorically as 'symphony'.1 Temperance is a quality and a disposition of character; but symphony strictly [applies] to a melody; and it is one of the things that are relative. Symphony is also applied to sounds.2
Temperance3 is called the opposite to madness, from the [condition of] having sound [soas] wits [phrenas]. And when the Apostle [Paul] had heard the governor [Festus saying to him] "Paul, you are mad: so much learning turns you round to madness!," replied "I am not mad, but I am speaking words of temperance and truth, having differentiated temperance from madness."4 Accordingly temperance [is] all that is unerring. Some people do well when they allot its appellation par excellence to the exercise of purity, which is the most eminent among the other [virtues]. Accordingly, if [temperance] were to be contrasted with madness, it indicates composure; but if [it were to be contrasted] with debauchery, it means continence and purity.

Greek original · Adler’s text

Σωφροσύνη· ταύτην μεταφορικῶς τινες ὁρίζονται συμφωνίαν. ἔστι δὲ ἡ σωφροσύνη ποιότης καὶ ἕξις· ἡ δὲ συμφωνία κυρίως ἐπὶ μέλους· καί ἐστι τῶν πρός τι. καὶ ἐπὶ φθόγγων δὲ τάττεται ἡ συμφωνία. Σωφροσύνη δὲ λέγεται ἡ ἀντιδιαστελλομένη τῇ μανίᾳ, παρὰ τὸ σῴας ἔχειν τὰς φρένας. καὶ ὁ Ἀπόστολος παρὰ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος ἀκούσας, μαίνῃ Παῦλε· τὰ πολλά σε γράμματα εἰς μανίαν περιάγει· οὐ μαίνομαι, φησίν, ἀλλὰ σωφροσύνης καὶ ἀληθείας ῥήματα φθέγγομαι, τῇ μανίᾳ τὴν σωφροσύνην ἀντιδιαστείλας. σωφροσύνη μὲν οὖν πᾶν τὸ ἀναμάρτητον. νέμουσι δ' αὐτῆς τὴν προσηγορίαν κατ' ἐξοχὴν εὖ ποιοῦντές τινες τῷ τῆς ἁγνείας πράγματι, ἐξοχωτάτῳ τῶν ἄλλων ὑπάρχοντι. εἰ μὲν οὖν τῇ μανίᾳ ἀντιδιασταλείη, τὸ καθεστάναι μηνύει· εἰ δὲ τῇ λαγνείᾳ, τὴν ἐγκράτειαν καὶ τὴν ἁγνείαν δηλοῖ.

Betacode
*swfrosu/nh: tau/thn metaforikw=s tines o(ri/zontai sumfwni/an. e)/sti de\ h( swfrosu/nh poio/ths kai\ e(/cis: h( de\ sumfwni/a kuri/ws e)pi\ me/lous: kai/ e)sti tw=n pro/s ti. kai\ e)pi\ fqo/ggwn de\ ta/ttetai h( sumfwni/a. *swfrosu/nh de\ le/getai h( a)ntidiastellome/nh th=| mani/a|, para\ to\ sw/|as e)/xein ta\s fre/nas. kai\ o( *)apo/stolos para\ tou= h(gemo/nos a)kou/sas, mai/nh| *pau=le: ta\ polla/ se gra/mmata ei)s mani/an peria/gei: ou) mai/nomai, fhsi/n, a)lla\ swfrosu/nhs kai\ a)lhqei/as r(h/mata fqe/ggomai, th=| mani/a| th\n swfrosu/nhn a)ntidiastei/las. swfrosu/nh me\n ou)=n pa=n to\ a)nama/rthton. ne/mousi d' au)th=s th\n proshgori/an kat' e)coxh\n eu)= poiou=nte/s tines tw=| th=s a(gnei/as pra/gmati, e)coxwta/tw| tw=n a)/llwn u(pa/rxonti. ei) me\n ou)=n th=| mani/a| a)ntidiastalei/h, to\ kaqesta/nai mhnu/ei: ei) de\ th=| lagnei/a|, th\n e)gkra/teian kai\ th\n a(gnei/an dhloi=.

Notes (4)

  1. See also sigma 890, sigma 891
  2. 1See Plato, Republic 430D-E. ↩
  3. 2cf. Alexander of Aphrodisias, Commentaries on Aristotle's Topica 324.9-15 and 511.12-13. ↩
  4. 3The source now becomes Isidore of Pelusium, Letters 3, 266. ↩
  5. 4An approximation of Acts 26:24, the passage where Paul appeals to Agrippa to believe in what the prophets said. ↩

Linked from2 entries

Neighbouring entries

σ890Σωφροσύνηneutrality, prudenceσ891Σωφροσύνηmoderation, self-controlσ892Σωφροσύνηmoderation, temperanceσ893ΣώφρωνSophronσ894ΣώφρωνSophron
Revision history6 revisions · last 23 Mar 2022
  1. tweaked translation — Catharine Roth
  2. codings — David Whitehead
  3. Revised — David Whitehead
  4. another keyword — David Whitehead
  5. another keyword — David Whitehead
  6. some modifications to tr; augmented notes and keywords; cosmetics — David Whitehead
  7. Translated — Marcelo Boeri

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