The Little Book of Stoicism

Practice 39

We Are All Limbs of the Same Body

“I, then, can neither be harmed by these people, nor become angry with one who is akin to me, nor can I hate him, for we have come into being to work together, like feet, hands, eyelids, or the two rows of teeth in our upper and lower jaws. To work against one another is therefore contrary to nature; and to be angry with another person and turn away from him is surely to work against him.” – Marcus Aurelius

You and me, we’re relatives. I am your brother. You are my brother or sister. We’re made for cooperation.

“Constantly think of the universe as a single living being,” says Marcus. We must recognize ourselves as a limb of a larger body and work together: “Since you yourself are one of the parts that serve to perfect a social system, let your every action contribute to the perfecting of social life.”

Let your actions contribute to the wellbeing of mankind. You are a limb of the whole. We must work together. Seneca agrees by saying that Mother Nature gave birth to us as relatives. And she instilled in us a mutual love.

We stem from the same source. “Our fellowship is very similar to an arch of stones, which would fall apart, if they did not reciprocally support each other.” We must support each other or the whole will fall apart. We’re all interconnected and depending on one another.

Working for each other is necessary if we want to live the best life possible. That means for you as a limb of the whole. Help others. Direct your actions for the common welfare. That’s the only way you’ll have a good life.

If we fail to recognize this interconnectedness, and if we fail to direct our actions to these social ends, then we tear our lives apart, says Marcus. This will create a separation and disharmony. And we won’t be able to live good lives.

Remember that we humans are created for one another. We’re born to work together the way our hands and eyelids do. Our actions should serve mankind with harmony as the goal.

Let’s do good to others and treat them as brothers and sisters, with patience, kindness, forgiveness, and generosity. This is the only way to the good life.

Remember Marcus’ words: “What brings no benefit to the hive brings none to the bee.”