MED. 6.43Discipline of desire
George Long · 1862EN · Long

Does the sun undertake to do the work of the rain, or Aesculapius the work of the Fruit-bearer (the earth)? And how is it with respect to each of the stars, are they not different and yet they TERMwork together DOGMAto the same end?

Original · ancient Greek

Μήτι ὁ ἥλιος τὰ τοῦ ὑετοῦ ἀξιοῖ ποιεῖν; μήτι ὁ Ἀσκληπιὸς1 τὰ τῆς Καρποφόρου2; τί δὲ τῶν ἄστρων ἕκαστον; οὐχὶ διάφορα μέν, συνεργὰ δὲ πρὸς ταὐτόν;

Leopold · Teubner 1908
Commentary

The division of functions. Four rhetorical questions (μήτιμήτιτί δέοὐχί…) lead to a single conclusion. The sun does not undertake the rain's work, TERMAsclepius1 not the Fruit-bearer's2: each god or star keeps to its own function. The governing discipline is desire (to accept the differentiated order); the sustaining one is action.

Difference for the sake of unity. The upshot: the stars are "different (διάφορα), yet TERMcooperating (συνεργὰ) toward the same thing (πρὸς ταὐτόν)." Not despite difference but through it is the DOGMAone end reached: the specialization of the parts is a form of their co-working. Hence the implied moral: a human being, too, need not do "another's" work — it is enough to do one's own to serve the Whole (cf. 06-42 on fellow-workers).

Parallels. 06-42 (all cooperate to one end); TERMco-working; the doctrine of DOGMAthe unity of the cosmos; cf. Med. 7.19; 06-33 (each organ does its own). The image of divided yet concordant powers — the Stoic συμπάθεια (06-38).

DisciplineDiscipline of desire
Record added2026-07-18
Statuspublished
Discipline of desire

George Long · 1862· EN · Long

Does the sun undertake to do the work of the rain, or Aesculapius the work of the Fruit-bearer (the earth)? And how is it with respect to each of the stars, are they not different and yet they TERMwork together DOGMAto the same end?

Original · ancient Greek

Μήτι ὁ ἥλιος τὰ τοῦ ὑετοῦ ἀξιοῖ ποιεῖν; μήτι ὁ Ἀσκληπιὸς1 τὰ τῆς Καρποφόρου2; τί δὲ τῶν ἄστρων ἕκαστον; οὐχὶ διάφορα μέν, συνεργὰ δὲ πρὸς ταὐτόν;

Leopold · Teubner 1908
Marginalia2
Related2
Commentary

The division of functions. Four rhetorical questions (μήτιμήτιτί δέοὐχί…) lead to a single conclusion. The sun does not undertake the rain's work, TERMAsclepius1 not the Fruit-bearer's2: each god or star keeps to its own function. The governing discipline is desire (to accept the differentiated order); the sustaining one is action.

Difference for the sake of unity. The upshot: the stars are "different (διάφορα), yet TERMcooperating (συνεργὰ) toward the same thing (πρὸς ταὐτόν)." Not despite difference but through it is the DOGMAone end reached: the specialization of the parts is a form of their co-working. Hence the implied moral: a human being, too, need not do "another's" work — it is enough to do one's own to serve the Whole (cf. 06-42 on fellow-workers).

Parallels. 06-42 (all cooperate to one end); TERMco-working; the doctrine of DOGMAthe unity of the cosmos; cf. Med. 7.19; 06-33 (each organ does its own). The image of divided yet concordant powers — the Stoic συμπάθεια (06-38).

DisciplineDiscipline of desire
Record added2026-07-18
Statuspublished