Marcus Aurelius: “But if it happens in such wise as thou art not formed by nature to bear it, do not complain, for it will perish after it…”

And how small a part of the whole substance; and how small a part of the universal soul; and on what a small clod of the whole earth thou creepest!

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

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.

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.