“Live according to nature.”
It’s one of the most repeated—and misunderstood—phrases in Stoic philosophy.

At first glance, it sounds like a call to live in the woods, abandon civilization, or follow instincts blindly. But that’s not what the Stoics meant. Their vision of nature was richer, deeper, and profoundly tied to reason, virtue, and the life of a thinking, ethical human being.

Nature Means More Than Trees and Sky

When the Stoics spoke of nature, they meant two things at once:

1. Universal Nature — the rational, ordered structure of the cosmos.
2. Human Nature — the specific qualities that make us human: reason, social connection, virtue.

To live according to nature wasn’t about escaping society—it was about fulfilling our nature as rational, social, moral beings.

Reason as Our Defining Feature

For the Stoics, reason isn’t just a tool we use—it’s the essence of who we are.

Animals follow instinct. Humans, uniquely, can reflect. We can choose to act in accordance with justice, wisdom, courage, and temperance. We can consider the good of others, not just ourselves.

Living according to nature means living thoughtfully—using our reason to guide our choices, rather than being led blindly by emotion, impulse, or social pressure.

“If you are pained by any external thing, it is not this thing that disturbs you, but your judgment about it.” — Marcus Aurelius

Harmony With Others

Human nature is not solitary. Marcus Aurelius often reminded himself that just as bees exist for the hive, we exist for the community.

Justice, fairness, patience, and kindness are not just nice add-ons—they are part of fulfilling our nature.

To live against others—to harm, cheat, or isolate—is to live against nature itself.

Accepting the Larger Nature

Living according to nature also means accepting the world’s larger design—even when it’s inconvenient or painful.

You cannot control every outcome. Illness, aging, and loss are part of the natural flow. Stoicism teaches us to meet these events not with resentment, but with dignity—responding as a part of a greater whole.

“Don’t demand that things happen as you wish, but wish that they happen as they do happen, and you will go on well.” — Epictetus

Living According to Nature, Today

It doesn’t mean rejecting modern life. It doesn’t mean ignoring emotion.
It means:

• Thinking clearly before acting.
• Choosing integrity over impulse.
• Caring for others as part of yourself.
• Accepting what you cannot control.

In short, it means becoming fully human.