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Meditations · Marcus Aurelius

XVI. Whatsoever dieth and falleth, however and wheresoever it die and

fall, it cannot fall out of the world. here it have its abode and change,

here also shall it have its dissolution into its proper elements.

The same are the world's elements, and the elements of which thou

dost consist. And they when they are changed, they murmur not;

why shouldest thou?

XVII. Whatsoever is, was made for something: as a horse, a vine.

Why wonderest thou? The sun itself will say of itself, I was

made for something; and so hath every god its proper function.

What then were then made for? to disport and delight thyself?

See how even common sense and reason cannot brook it.