Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Keep three things always ready in your mind: First, about your own actions — make sure you do nothing without purpose or against what is right and fair. Second, about things that happen to you from outside — they happen either by chance or by providence. Either way, it makes no sense to blame them.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 18 Book 12 · 27 of 41
Freedom & Control Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

These three things thou must have always in a readiness: first concerning thine own actions, whether thou doest nothing either idly, or otherwise, than justice and equity do require: and concerning those things that happen unto thee externally, that either they happen unto thee by chance, or by providence; of which two to accuse either, is equally against reason.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 18 Book 12 · 27 of 41
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

Death also comes to us through the order of Divine Providence. The person whose will aligns with this divine plan — whose mind moves along with God's will — is truly carried forward by God himself. Such a person can be called θεοφόρητος: divinely led and inspired.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 17 Book 12 · 26 of 41
Death & Mortality Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

It is that also, which is brought unto us by the order and appointment of the Divine Providence; so that he whose will and mind in these things runs along with the Divine ordinance, and by this concurrence of his will and mind with the Divine Providence, is led and driven along, as it were by God Himself; may truly be termed and esteemed the θεοφόρητος, or divinely led and inspired.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 17 Book 12 · 26 of 41
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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