Constantly think of the Universe as one living creature, embracing one being and one soul; how all is absorbed into the one consciousness of this living creature; how it compasses all things with a single purpose, and how all things work together to cause all that comes to pass, and their wonderful web and texture.
[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.]
Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) Roman emperor (161-180), Stoic philosopher
Meditations [To Himself; Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν], Book 4, ch. 40 (4.40) (AD 161-180) [tr. Farquharson (1944)]
(Source)
The universe as a single, unified being, was part of Stoic philosophy.
(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:Ever consider and think upon the world as being but one living substance, and having but one soul, and how all things in the world, are terminated into one sensitive power; and are done by one general motion as it were, and deliberation of that one soul; and how all things that are, concur in the cause of one another's being, and by what manner of connection and concatenation all things happen.
[tr. Casaubon (1634), 4.33]You ought frequently to consider that the World is an Animal, consisting of one Soul and Body; that an Universal Sense runs through the whole Mass of Matter. You should likewise reflect how Nature Acts by a Joynt Effort, and as it were altogether; And how every thing contributes to the Being of every thing: And lastly, what Connexion and Subordination there is, between Causes, and Effects.
[tr. Collier (1701)]Consider always this universe as one living being or animal; with one material substance, and one spirit; and how all things are referred to the sense of this spirit; and how it’s will accomplishes all things, and how the whole concurs to the production of every thing; and what a connexion and contexture there is among all things.
[tr. Hutcheson/Moor (1742)]You should always remember, that the world or universe is one animated system, including one material substance and one spirit, and that all things have a reference to this one spirit, which pervades and actuates teh whole. You should reflect also, that all nature acts with a united force, and all things concur reciprocally in producing all things; and lastly, what connection and dependence subsists between them.
[tr. Graves (1792), 4.33]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 co-operating causes of all things which exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the contexture of the web.
[tr. Long (1862)]You ought frequently to consider that the world is an animal, consisting of one sould and body, that an universal sense runs through the whole mass of matter. You should likewise reflect how nature acts by a joint effort, and how everything contributes to the being of everything: and lastly, what connection and subordination there is between causes and effects.
[tr. Collier/Zimmern (1887)]Consistently picture the universe as a living organism, controlling a single substance and a single soul, and note how all things are assimilated to a single world-sense, all act by a single impulse, and all co-operate towards all that comes to pass; and mare the contexture and concatenation of the web.
[tr. Rendall (1898)]Ever consider this Universe as one living being, with one material substance and one spirit. Observe how all things are referred to the one intelligence of this being; how all things act on one impulse; how all things are concurrent causes of all others; and how all things are connected and intertwined.
[tr. Hutcheson/Chrystal (1902)]Cease not to think of the Universe as one living Being, possessed of a single Substance and a single Soul; and how all things trace back to its single sentience; and how it does all things by a single impulse; and how all existing things are joint causes of all things that come into existence; and how intertwined in the fabric is the thread and how closely woven the web.
[tr. Haines (Loeb) (1916)]Always think of the universe as one living organism, with a single substance and a single soul; and observe how all things are submitted to the single perceptivity of this one whole, all are moved by its single impulse, and all play their part in the causation of every event that happens. Remark the intricacy of the skein, the complexity of the web.
[tr. Staniforth (1964)]Constantly think of the universe as a single living being, comprised of a single substance and a single souil; and how all things issue into the single consciousness of this being, and how it accomplishes all things through a single impulse; and how al things work together to cause all that comes to be, and how intricate and densely woven is the fabric formed by their interweaving.
[tr. Hard (1997 ed.)]The world as a living being -- one nature, one soul. Keep that in mind. And how everything feeds into that single experience, moves with a single motion. And how everything helps produce everything else. Spun and woven together.
[tr. Hays (2003)]Think always of the universe as one living creature, comprising one substance and one soul: how all is absorbed into this one consciousness; how a single impulse governs all its actions; how all things collaborate in all that happens; the very web and mesh of it all.
[tr. Hammond (2006)]Constantly think of the universe as a single living being, comprised of a single substance and a single soul; and how all things issue into the single perception of this being, and how it accomplishes all things through a single impulse; and how all things work together to cause all that comes to be, and how intricate and densely woven is the fabric formed by their interweaving.
[tr. Hard (2011 ed.)]Constantly think of the universe as one living animal, possessing one substance and one soul; and how all these things are absorbed into the single perception of this animal and how it does all things with a single motive and how all things are co-responsible for everything that happens and how things form a kind of web and mesh.
[tr. Gill (2013)]
