The Essential Marcus Aurelius (Tarcher Cornerstone Editions)

by Marcus Aurelius

If the gods have made decisions concerning me, in particular what must happen to me, no doubt they have made good decisions, for not easily could one conceive of a god who is lacking in wisdom. And what reason would he have for wanting to harm me? What benefit could there be to the Whole, for which they care most of all? But if they have not made decisions concerning me alone but have done so concerning the Whole, then I am obliged to welcome and be content with all that happens to me according to this sequence of natural events. If, however, they make no decisions—blasphemous to think, or else let us no longer sacrifice, pray, swear by them, or do any of the other things which we do in the belief that they are present and live among us—if it is indeed the case that they do not make decisions concerning my interests, it nevertheless remains within my power to make decisions concerning myself. My search is for what is beneficial. The benefit for each is in accordance with how they are made and their specific nature, and my nature pertains both to Reason and to society. My city is Rome, insofar as I am Antoninus; but insofar as I am a human being, my city is the Cosmos. Therefore all that benefits these cities is alone my good.