Constantly regard the universe as one living being

Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the co-operating causes of all things which exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the contexture of the web.. And inasmuch as I am in a manner intimately related to the parts which are of the same kind of myself, I shall do nothing unsocial, but I shall rather direct myself to the things which are the same kind with myself, and I shall turn all my efforts to the common interest, and divert them from the contrary.

from The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius