Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

The whole world is made of all its parts working together as one complete body. In the same way, destiny is made of all particular causes and events working as one general destiny. Even simple people understand this. They say, 'This was his fate' or 'This was meant to happen to him.' So whatever fate brings to each person is specifically meant for them, just like a doctor prescribes specific treatments for each patient. We should accept what fate brings us the same way we accept what doctors prescribe. Those medicines often taste bitter or hurt, but we take them anyway because we hope to get better.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 8 Book 5 · 13 of 52
Freedom & Control Facing Hardship
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

And as the whole world is made up of all the particular bodies of the world, one perfect and complete body, of the same nature that particular bodies; so is the destiny of particular causes and events one general one, of the same nature that particular causes are. What I now say, even they that are mere idiots are not ignorant of: for they say commonly τοῦτο ἔφερεν ἀυτῷ, that is, This his destiny hath brought upon him. This therefore is by the fates properly and particularly brought upon this, as that unto this in particular is by the physician prescribed. These therefore let us accept of in like manner, as we do those that are prescribed unto us our physicians. For them also in themselves shall We find to contain many harsh things, but we nevertheless, in hope of health, and recovery, accept of them.

Meditations, Book 5, Section 8 Book 5 · 13 of 52
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
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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