“For any challenge we should hold three thoughts at our command: ‘Lead on God and Destiny, To that Goal fixed for me long ago. I will follow and not stumble; even if my will is weak I will soldier on.”
— Cleanthes
“Whoever embraces necessity count as wise, skilled in divine matters.”
— Euripides
“If it pleases the gods, so be it. They may well kill me, but they can’t hurt me.”
— Plato’s Crito and Apology
— Epictetus, Enchiridion, 53
If one believes in destiny then there is no such thing as an event going contrary to plan. If you believe in a deity this may be an easy thought to stomach, but how does one square the idea of destiny otherwise?
As the book says, these quotes all are wisdoms compiled by Epictetus to demonstrate tolerance, flexibility, and acceptance. Regardless of your beliefs, these are enduring stoic concepts that can be applied to any and all events. If you approach each happening with this frame, then the concept of destiny actually takes shape regardless of your beliefs. An event may be random, challenging, painful, and yet it is uniquely yours the same as an event that may be pleasing or fortuitous. Is it reasonable to consider oneself deserving of the good events without also deserving the bad?
Zooming out slightly, I recently read The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack which was excellent. In it she explores the various was the Universe eventually ends according to astrophysics. As part of this is a sobering realization — no matter what, the party doesn’t go on forever. It is literally written into the rules of the Universe. The only question is how the party ends, and humanity will have vanished long before we arrive at any conclusion.
In a sense, this is our destiny. Humanity, yes, but also… well, everything. What choice is there but to accept this fate? It cannot be changed, at least not with any knowledge we now possess. And even if we could, why would we? Who are we to rewrite the rules of the Universe even if such a thing is possible.
This ventures into the territory of nihilism and absurdism, but I find it quite compatible with what Epictetus highlights here. We must accept that at the grandest of scales, it really isn’t up to us at all what happens. Perhaps it is our fate, our destiny, to party with the Universe and enjoy the ride as best we can taking each day as it is given.
Cash Flow 