Marcus Aurelius: “Pray thou: How shall I not desire to be released?”

From thence all things flow; and there is besides necessity, and that which is for the advantage of the whole universe, of which thou art a part.

I observed, too, that no man could ever think that he was despised by Maximus, or ever venture to think himself a better man.

The third, then, is the ruling part; consider thus: Thou art an old man; no longer let this be a slave, no longer be pulled by the strings like a puppet to unsocial movements, no longer be either dissatisfied with thy present lot, or…

Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason.