The vulgar confine their admiration chiefly to things of an elementary order, which exist by virtue of mere inorganic cohesion or processes of nature: things of timber and stone, for example, or groves of figs and vines and olives.
Minds of a somewhat higher degree of enlightenment are attracted by things that have animation, such as flocks and herds.
A further step in refinement leads to admiration of the rational soul: rational, however, not yet in the sense of being part of the universal.
Reason, but simply as possessing certain skills in handicraft or other such talents.
But the man who values a soul that is rational and universal and social no longer cares for anything else, but aims solely at keeping the temper of his own soul and all its activities rational and social, and works together with his fellows to this end. – Marcus Aurelius
Everything harmonizes with me, which is harmonious to thee, o Universe.
Nothing for me is too early or too late, which is in due time for thee.