Marcus Aurelius: “Second, make thy acts refer to nothing else than to a social end.”

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.

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

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.

But it is inconsistent with honoring reason and God to be troubled because by death a man will be deprived of the other things.