Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

But here is something to be joyful about. You can be united again. God has not given this gift to any other part of creation. Once something is separated and cut off, it cannot usually come back together again. But look at this goodness — how great it is! It values humans so much. At first, people were made so they didn't have to separate themselves from the whole unless they chose to. And once divided and cut off, God has arranged things so that if someone wants to, they can return. They can grow back together again and take their place as part of the whole, just like before.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 32 Book 8 · 38 of 67
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

However, herein is matter of joy and exultation, that thou mayst be united again. God hath not granted it unto any other part, that once separated and cut off, it might be reunited, and come together again. But, behold, that GOODNESS how great and immense it is! which hath so much esteemed MAN. As at first he was so made, that he needed not, except he would himself, have divided himself from the whole; so once divided and cut off, IT hath so provided and ordered it, that if he would himself, he might return, and grow together again, and be admitted into its former rank and place of a part, as he was before.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 32 Book 8 · 38 of 67
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Picture a hand, foot, or head cut off from the body and lying somewhere alone. That's what a person becomes when they get upset about what happens to them and separate themselves from it. Or when they act against the natural law that connects all people. Or when they act without kindness. If you do any of these things, you cut yourself off from the natural unity of all things. You were born as part of the whole, but now you have separated yourself.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 32 Book 8 · 37 of 67
Human Nature Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

If ever thou sawest either a hand, or a foot, or a head lying by itself, in some place or other, as cut off from the rest of the body, such must thou conceive him to make himself, as much as in him lieth, that either is offended with anything that is happened, (whatsoever it be) and as it were divides himself from it: or that commits anything against the natural law of mutual correspondence, and society among men: or, he that, commits any act of uncharitableness. Whosoever thou art, thou art such, thou art cast forth I know not whither out of the general unity, which is according to nature. Thou went born indeed a part, but now thou hast cut thyself off.

Meditations, Book 8, Section 32 Book 8 · 37 of 67
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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