Leading men. Marcus Aurelius 6.23

Marcus discusses the way to lead humans, as opposed to other things in the world. We humans must give one another agency, if we are to cooperate. Our commander expects his men to act, and they want him to act, too. Failure to rise to the occasion on either side will ruin the action. Gods are invoked to punish the party responsible, when this happens, and Marcus advises himself against having elaborate schedules or calendars for human tasks that take us too far from natural cycles and seasons.

Τοῖς μὲν ἀλόγοις ζῴοις καὶ καθόλου πράγμασι καὶ ὑποκειμένοις, ὡς λόγον ἔχων λόγον μὴ ἔχουσι, χρῶ μεγαλοφρόνως καὶ ἐλευθέρως· τοῖς δὲ ἀνθρώποις, ὡς λόγον ἔχουσι, χρῶ κοινωνικῶς· ἐφ’ ἅπασι δὲ θεοὺς ἐπικαλοῦ. καὶ μὴ διαφέρου πρὸς τὸ πόσῳ χρόνῳ ταῦτα πράξεις· ἀρκοῦσι γὰρ καὶ τρεῖς ὧραι τοιαῦται.

I make free and generous use of irrational animals, ruling them the way I rule circumstances and materials generally, for I approach them with rational plans where they have none. Men I use differently, however, sharing my plans and authority with them, since they too are rational. Call the gods to witness against every man, and make no special effort to mark the time in which you will act, for nature's three seasons are sufficient.