A philosophical statement on life

[Philodim]

Hello and happy new year!
I have read a philosophical statement about a year ago that I can't remember. I think it's from one of the Stoics. It goes something like this:
A man should live with a universal flow; then a tray with food is being passed, do not try to grab from it if it already past you.
If anyone knows it, I would greatly appreciate..

[Renee]

Hello and happy new year!
I have read a philosophical statement about a year ago that I can't remember. I think it's from one of the Stoics. It goes something like this:
A man should live with a universal flow; then a tray with food is being passed, do not try to grab from it if it already past you.
If anyone knows it, I would greatly appreciate..

Thank you! And likewise.

It is an ancient Viet Nam Ease saying, not a Stoic proverb. "Gni Hua kong ni Tgue Shcha, dong ta goi ng ko cheou." "When the plate has passed, it's gone from your reach", lossley translated. It is not so much a "go with the flow" expression, but rather a call to answer the door when opportunity knocks, and not be tardy about it, because you may miss your chance if you don't act in a timely manner when you absolutely should.

It is equivalent to my great-great-grand aunt Mariska neni's exclamation. She was married to an incredibly wealthy grain merchant in Hungary, but she was stingy as hell. At one of her parties she passed around a plate with cookies (the Hungarian equivalent to them, bon-bons) as it was customary at the time, and when it got to the last person, there were no more cookies left. She cried out in desperation, "Mein suesser Gott! Somebody took two pieces." ("Szent isten! Valaki kettot vett.")

[Philodim]

Thank you Renee, I will remember this saying!
I am pretty sure that the book that I have read was old (1800's - 450bc) Greek or Roman and of course translated. The meaning of the saying or a statement, that I remember, was that one shoul live one's life as though - As if a plate of food pulling away from one sitting at the table, and not to interfere with the action of the movement. Maybe the meaning was to let things go as they are...
Not being able to find this statement is driving me nuts, but I will wait and see and then let go!

[WorldThief]

The Greeks likely learned a great deal of this kind of wisdom from the Taoists in China -- or perhaps they arrived at the philosophy mutually and/or independently.

The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence
of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying,
without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men
dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of) the Tao.

In other words, Go with the Flow.

[Philodim]

"Go with a Flow" indeed, you are right!
That is what I have learned!

-- Updated January 29th, 2017, 11:16 am to add the following --

I finally found the statement I was looking for!
If anyone is still interested......
Here it is:
anechou kai apechou - Epictetus
Epictetus’ position was summed up in his slogan anechou kai apechou, ‘bear and forbear’ or ‘sustain and abstain’ or Hold on, and also, Hold off. One must tolerate, as being part of the universal good, all those experiences that the world calls misfortunes, and one must not have any emotional attachment to the things that one cannot control.
"Do not admire your wife’s beauty and you will not be angry if she is unfaithful"
At life’s banquet do not want the dish that is not yet before you and do not try to detain it as it passes away.