☀️ Micro Morning Meditation: Amongst Friends All Things In Common

The natural fellowship between us.

1. Morning Contemplation

🎧 You can find the audio version of this morning’s contemplation below.

Good morning.

The foundation of Stoic kindness for those who seek to practice it is the acknowledgement that an important connection exists, and has always existed, between all members of the human race.

Nature established this fellowship within us.

We naturally share the capacity to reason, which other creatures can’t achieve to anywhere near the same extent. We have a bond that grows by the processes of teaching and learning, communicating and assisting.

In his On Duties work, the Roman philosopher Cicero summarizes our natural connection to each other with the following Greek proverb:

Amongst friends all things in common.

Going further, Cicero cites the poet Ennius. This verse is restricted to one instance of kindness, he says, but the principle may be applied more generally:

Who kindly sets a wand’rer on his way
Does e’en as if he lit another’s lamp by his:
No less shines his, when he his friend’s hath lit.

The language is archaic, but the message is this: it’s good to bestow upon friends and strangers alike what it costs us nothing to give.

To emphasize the point, Cicero provides three short maxims to remind us the value of performing acts that are not only useful to the recipient but also cause the giver no loss:

• Deny no one the water that flows by.

• Let anyone who will take fire from our fire.

• Honest counsel give to one who is in doubt.

The principles are Stoic ones. They encourage us to always give consideration to how we’re contributing to the common good.

But in true Stoic fashion, we’re also reminded to moderate our efforts within the bounds of what we’re capable of. The number of those needing help is practically infinite, and we can’t help them all.

We have to take care of ourselves at the same time, so that we maintain the means, the stamina, to be able to take care of others.

2. Morning Meditation

Sit down in a safe, comfortable spot, close your eyes, and take a few minutes to meditate on this morning's theme.

Listen to the short meditation below as I guide you to briefly reflect on the key points from today's contemplation.​​