Marcus Aurelius: “Reverence that which is best in the universe; and this is that which makes use of all things and directs all things.”

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

The safety of life is this, to examine everything all through, what it is itself, that is its material, what the formal part; with all thy soul to do justice and to say the truth.

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.