TIME delivers fools from grief; and reason, wise men.
EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 123.
AS a pig that cries and flings when his throat is cut, fancy to thyself everyone to be, that grieves for any worldly thing and takes on. Such a one is he also, who upon his bed alone, doth bewail the miseries of this our mortal life. And remember this, that unto reasonable creatures only it is granted that they may willingly and freely submit unto Providence: but absolutely to submit, is a necessity imposed upon all creatures equally.
MARCUS AURELIUS. MEDITATIONS. Book X. 28.
ANY person may live happily in poverty; but few in wealth and power.
EPICTETUS. FRAGMENTS. 128.
I am reminded of the voluntary simplicity movement and of serenity when I read these excerpts. All must submit to Providence as Life is what life is but to willingly submit means to guide ones life with a different goal and underlying purpose to serenity.
ReplyDeleteAs reasonable creatures, we have the privileged to willing submit to providence. We will be submitted to providence, like it or not, but we can CHOOSE to accept it, wealth or poverty, grief or joy, life or death. We can reach serenity if we choose the way that Nature has shown.
ReplyDelete