But if they have not determined about me individually, they have certainly determined about the whole at least, and the things which happen by way of sequence in this general arrangement I ought to accept with pleasure and to be content with them.
In his private journal, Marcus Aurelius reflects on accepting the general order of the universe and being content with its unfolding, even if individual fate is not explicitly known.
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How small a part of the boundless and unfathomable time is assigned to every man, for it is very soon swallowed up in the eternal!
The safety of life is this, to examine everything all through, what it is itself, that is its material, what the formal part; with all thy soul to do justice and to say the truth.
And how small a part of the whole substance; and how small a part of the universal soul; and on what a small clod of the whole earth thou creepest!
But if it is easy to set little value on all these things, turn to that which remains, which is to follow reason and God.
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