Marcus Aurelius: “In one respect man is the nearest thing to me, so far as I must do good to men and endure them.”

One is that things do not touch the soul, for they are external and remain immovable; but our perturbations come only from the opinion which is within.

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.

Enough of this wretched life and murmuring and apish tricks.

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…