Marcus Aurelius: “For the integrity of the whole is mutilated, if thou cuttest off anything whatever from the conjunction and the…”

If then there is an invincible necessity, why dost thou resist?

Labor not unwillingly, nor without regard to the common interest, nor without due consideration, nor with distraction; nor let studied ornament set off thy thoughts, and be not either a man of many words, or busy about too many things.

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

He took a reasonable care of his body's health, not as one who was greatly attached to life, nor out of regard to personal appearance, nor yet in a careless way, but so that through his own attention he very seldom stood in need of the…