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

Thou must turn to profit the present by the aid of reason and justice.

Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquillity which others give.

How ridiculous and what a stranger he is who is surprised at anything which happens in life.

Besides this, he honored those who were true philosophers, and he did not reproach those who pretended to be philosophers, nor yet was he easily led by them.