Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

We say that a doctor prescribes riding for one patient, cold baths for another, and going barefoot for a third. In the same way, the nature of the universe has prescribed sickness, blindness, loss, or damage for different people. When we say a doctor prescribes something, we mean he chose it to help with healing. So here, whatever happens to anyone is ordered by fate for a purpose. That's why we say these things "fall together." When masons fit square stones into walls or pyramids, they say the stones "fall together" in harmony. So even though the individual things are different, the overall harmony is one.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 8 Book 5 · 12 of 52
Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

As we say commonly, The physician hath prescribed unto this man, riding; unto another, cold baths; unto a third, to go barefoot: so it is alike to say, The nature of the universe hath prescribed unto this man sickness, or blindness, or some loss, or damage or some such thing. For as there, when we say of a physician, that he hath prescribed anything, our meaning is, that he hath appointed this for that, as subordinate and conducing to health: so here, whatsoever doth happen unto any, is ordained unto him as a thing subordinate unto the fates, and therefore do we say of such things, that they do συμβαίνειν, that is, happen, or fall together; as of square stones, when either in walls, or pyramids in a certain position they fit one another, and agree as it were in an harmony, the masons say, that they do συμβαίνειν; as if thou shouldest say, fall together: so that in the general, though the things be divers that make it, yet the consent or harmony itself is but one.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 8 Book 5 · 12 of 52
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The Athenians prayed like this: 'O rain, rain, good Jupiter, on all the grounds and fields that belong to the Athenians.' Either we should not pray at all, or we should pray this way — simply and openly, not just for ourselves alone.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 7 Book 5 · 11 of 52
Human Nature What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

The form of the Athenians' prayer did run thus: 'O rain, rain, good Jupiter, upon all the grounds and fields that belong to the Athenians.' Either we should not pray at all, or thus absolutely and freely; and not every one for himself in particular alone.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 7 Book 5 · 11 of 52
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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