Marcus Aurelius: “To her who gives and takes back all, to nature, the man who is instructed and modest says, Give what thou wilt; take…”

But if there is a providence which allows itself to be propitiated, make thyself worthy of the help of the divinity.

How ridiculous and what a stranger he is who is surprised at anything which happens in life.

Labor not unwillingly, nor without regard to the common interest, nor without due consideration, nor with distraction; nor let studied ornament set off thy thoughts, and be not either a man of many words, or busy about too many things.

Further, I owe it to the gods that I was not hurried into any offence against any of them, though I had a disposition which, if opportunity had offered, might have led me to do something of this kind; but, through their favor, there never…