Marcus Aurelius: “Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break, but it stands firm and tames the fury of the water…”

All that is from the gods is full of providence.

In the morning when thou risest unwillingly, let this thought be present,--I am rising to the work of a human being.

Either there is a fatal necessity and invincible order, or a kind providence, or a confusion without a purpose and without a director (iv. 27).

In the application of thy principles thou must be like the pancratiast, not like the gladiator; for the gladiator lets fall the sword which he uses and is killed; but the other always has his hand, and needs to do nothing else than use it.