Marcus Aurelius: “The perfection of moral character consists in this, in passing every day as the last, and in being neither violently…”

Throw away thy books; no longer distract thyself: it is not allowed; but as if thou wast now dying, despise the flesh; it is blood and bones and network, a contexture of nerves, veins, and arteries.

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

Thou must turn to profit the present by the aid of reason and justice.

The third, then, is the ruling part; consider thus: Thou art an old man; no longer let this be a slave, no longer be pulled by the strings like a puppet to unsocial movements, no longer be either dissatisfied with thy present lot, or…