Marcus Aurelius: “For whatever this may be, it is in thy power to do it or to say it, and do not make excuses that thou art hindered.”

Reflecting on all this, consider nothing to be great, except to act as thy nature leads thee, and to endure that which the common nature brings.

How small a part of the boundless and unfathomable time is assigned to every man, for it is very soon swallowed up in the eternal!

But intellect in a peculiar manner tends to that which is of the same kin, and combines with it, and the feeling for communion is not interrupted.

But everything else, whether it is in the power of thy will or not, is only lifeless ashes and smoke.