Marcus Aurelius: “What then can these things do to prevent thy mind from remaining pure, wise, sober, just?”

What a power man has to do nothing except what God will approve, and to accept all that God may give him.

Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason.

He was accustomed to do acts of beneficence, and was ready to forgive, and was free from all falsehood; and he presented the appearance of a man who could not be diverted from right, rather than of a man who had been improved.

And the things which conduce in any way to the commodity of life, and of which fortune gives an abundant supply, he used without arrogance and without excusing himself; so that when he had them, he enjoyed them without affectation, and…