Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Man, God, the world — everything in its own way bears fruit. All things have their proper season. We usually think of the word 'fruit' as belonging to vines and trees, but it applies more broadly. Reason bears two kinds of fruit: common fruit that benefits others, and personal fruit that it enjoys itself. Reason spreads naturally. What it creates in itself, it creates in others, and so multiplies.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 8 Book 9 · 15 of 60
Human Nature What Matters Most
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

Man, God, the world, every one in their kind, bear some fruits. All things have their proper time to bear. Though by custom, the word itself is in a manner become proper unto the vine, and the like, yet is it so nevertheless, as we have said. As for reason, that beareth both common fruit for the use of others; and peculiar, which itself doth enjoy. Reason is of a diffusive nature, what itself is in itself, it begets in others, and so doth multiply.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 8 Book 9 · 15 of 60
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

But look what has happened now. Reasonable creatures — humans — are the only ones who have forgotten their natural love for each other. Of all things that share the same nature, only humans lack the basic urge to come together. They try to run from their nature, but they get caught anyway. No matter what they do, nature wins in the end. You will see this if you pay attention. You are more likely to find something earthly where nothing earthly exists than to find a person who can truly live alone.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 7 Book 9 · 14 of 60
Human Nature Knowing Yourself
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

But now behold, what is now come to pass. Those creatures that are reasonable, are now the only creatures that have forgotten their natural affection and inclination of one towards another. Among them alone of all other things that are of one kind, there is not to be found a general disposition to flow together. But though they fly from nature, yet are they stopt in their course, and apprehended. Do they what they can, nature doth prevail. And so shalt thou confess, if thou dost observe it. For sooner mayst thou find a thing earthly, where no earthly thing is, than find a man that naturally can live by himself alone.

Meditations, Book 9, Section 7 Book 9 · 14 of 60
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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