Plain
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

If it had been more just or natural for good people to return to life after death, the universe would have made it happen. But since it doesn't happen, you can be confident it wasn't meant to be. You see how freely you argue with God about this question. If the gods weren't perfectly just and good, you wouldn't dare to reason with them this way. And since they are just and good, they couldn't have overlooked or made mistakes when they created the world.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 4 Book 12 · 8 of 41
Death & Mortality Doing The Right Thing
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

For certainly it was possible, had it been more just so and had it been according to nature, the nature of the universe would easily have borne it. But now because it is not so, (if so be that it be not so indeed) be therefore confident that it was not fit it should be so for thou seest thyself, that now seeking after this matter, how freely thou doest argue and contest with God. But were not the Gods both just and good in the highest degree, thou durst not thus reason with them. Now if just and good, it could not be that in the creation of the world, they should either unjustly or unreasonably oversee anything.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 4 Book 12 · 8 of 41
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor

How is it that the gods, who arranged everything else so well and lovingly, would overlook just this one thing? Some very good people have made promises to God. Through holy actions and worship, they built a close relationship with Him. Yet when these people die, they are never brought back to life. They are gone forever. But you can be sure of this: if it really is this way, the gods would never have arranged it so unless it was right.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 4 Book 12 · 7 of 41
Death & Mortality Freedom & Control
Marcus Aurelius — The Emperor Original

how come it to pass that the Gods having ordered all other things so well and so lovingly, should be overseen in this one only thing, that whereas then hath been some very good men that have made many covenants as it were with God and by many holy actions and outward services contracted a kind of familiarity with Him; that these men when once they are dead, should never be restored to life, but be extinct for ever. But this thou mayest be sure of, that this (if it be so indeed) would never have been so ordered by the Gods, had it been fit otherwise.

Meditations, Book 12, Section 4 Book 12 · 7 of 41
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Ancient philosophy, in plain English.

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