What did Plotinus mean by the harmony and universal sympathy of the universe?

For Plotinus, the universe is a living, organic whole—the best possible reflection of the unity found in the world of Intellect. He maintained that the material world is held together in every part by a "universal sympathy and harmony," which functions as an indwelling principle of life and order.1

This harmony implies that the universe is a coherent, interconnected system rather than a collection of disjointed parts. Within this structure, events that might appear as external evil or suffering are viewed as necessary elements of a greater pattern—often described by Plotinus as the "great dance of the universe." Because the physical world is a noble image of the intelligible realm, these perceived imperfections do not diminish the overall goodness or beauty of the cosmos. For the philosopher, understanding this universal sympathy is part of recognizing that while lower selves may be affected by suffering, the true, higher self remains untouched, ensuring the soul's ultimate well-being.1