Marcus Aurelius: “I am composed of the formal and the material; and neither of them will perish into non-existence, as neither of them…”

As thou intendest to live when them art gone out, ... so it is in thy power to live here.

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.

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

For every judgment and movement and desire and aversion is within, and no evil ascends so high.