Marcus Aurelius: “First, do nothing inconsiderately, nor without a purpose.”

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.

There is one intelligent soul, though it seems to be divided.

But if it is easy to set little value on all these things, turn to that which remains, which is to follow reason and God.

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.