Marcus Aurelius: “For the destruction of the understanding is a pestilence, much more, indeed, than any such corruption and change of this…”

Throw away thy books; no longer distract thyself: it is not allowed; but as if thou wast now dying, despise the flesh; it is blood and bones and network, a contexture of nerves, veins, and arteries.

That which is from fortune is not separated from nature or without an interweaving and involution with the things which are ordered by providence.

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

Do not then consider life a thing of any value. + For look to the immensity of time behind thee, and to the time which is before thee, another boundless space.