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January 4, 2008 · No Comment · Previous · Next  

Marcus Aurelius on the Cosmology

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Aureus of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, 156 CE

Ὡς ἓν ζῷον τὸν κόσμον, μίαν οὐσίαν καὶ ψυχὴν μίαν ἐπέχον, συνεχῶς ἐπινοεῖν καὶ πῶς εἰς αἴσθησιν μίαν τὴν τούτου πάντα ἀναδίδοται καὶ πῶς ὁρμῇ μιᾷ πάντα πράσσει καὶ πῶς πάντα πάντων τῶν γινομένων συναίτια καὶ οἵα τις ἡ σύννησις καὶ συμμήρυσις.

Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things which exist; and consider, too, how carefully intertwined are the threads woven together to construct this fabric, how dense is this celestial weave!

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Meditations (Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν), bk iv, line 40 (175 CE)

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