Marcus Aurelius: “But begin with thyself, and examine thyself first.”

What remains, except to enjoy life by joining one good thing to another so as not to leave even the smallest intervals between?

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

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.

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.