Life according to Nature. Marcus Aurelius 1.17.6-7
Again we see Marcus' approach to deity differing from that of others, notably Unamuno. The Roman does not think that gods teach him anything directly, personally; their action merely creates occasion and opportunity, which he can read as a signal, a reminder to act. These reminders are like personal lessons: they take on that flavor when we receive them, because of our humanity. But Marcus is careful to avoid projecting that humanity onto them too strongly, whereas Unamuno is not. The ancient philosopher inhabits a world dominated by impersonal, non-human powers extending down to man; the modern one, a world dominated by humanity extending out beyond itself. You can hear this passage <here>.
τὸ γνῶναι Ἀπολλώνιον, Ῥούστικον, Μάξιμον. τὸ φαντασθῆναι περὶ τοῦ κατὰ φύσιν βίου ἐναργῶς καὶ πολλάκις οἷός τίς ἐστιν, ὥστε, ὅσον ἐπὶ τοῖς θεοῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐκεῖθεν διαδόσεσι καὶ συλλήψεσι καὶ ἐπιπνοίαις, μηδὲν κωλύειν ἤδη κατὰ φύσιν ζῆν με, ἀπολείπεσθαι δὲ ἔτι τούτου παρὰ τὴν ἐμὴν αἰτίαν καὶ παρὰ τὸ μὴ διατηρεῖν τὰς ἐκ τῶν θεῶν ὑπομνήσεις καὶ μονονουχὶ διδασκαλίας· τὸ ἀντισχεῖν μοι τὸ σῶμα ἐπὶ τοσοῦτον ἐν τοιούτῳ βίῳ· τὸ μήτε Βενεδίκτης ἅψασθαι μήτε Θεοδότου, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὕστερον ἐν ἐρωτικοῖς πάθεσι γενόμενον ὑγιᾶναι· τὸ χαλεπήναντα πολλάκις Ῥουστίκῳ μηδὲν πλέον πρᾶξαι, ἐφ̓ ᾧ ἂν μετέγνων· τὸ μέλλουσαν νέαν τελευτᾶν τὴν τεκοῦσαν ὅμως οἰκῆσαι μετ̓ ἐμοῦ τὰ τελευταῖα ἔτη.
Another blessing: knowing Apollonius (§ 1.8), Rusticus (§ 1.7), and Maximus (§ 1.15). Having ever present a clear vision of life according to nature (†), so that while much depends upon the gods—what they grant, what they grudge, what they inspire—nothing keeps me from living naturally, not even the fact that I still fall short sometimes, failing to heed the divine reminders that are almost lessons. I am blessed to have hardened my body quite a bit with this life. To have avoided taking up with Benedicta or Theodotus (‡), saving my passion for maturity, where it has prospered. To have no more cause for regret than I do, after all my quarrels with Rusticus, who in spite of all spent his final years with me, passing through the second childhood that announces our end.
---
(†) Marcus also credits Sextus with teaching him important lessons about 'life according to nature' (§ 1.9, which refers explicitly to τὸ κατὰ φύσιν ζῆν).
(‡) Some think these may have been household slaves, whose proximity and social position provided opportunity and license for sexual intimacy. Other members of the household could also be available: remember Marcus' gratitude at avoiding too much intimacy with his grandfather's concubine (§ 1.17.2). A theme for our emperor is that he was fortunate to save sex for adulthood.