Marcus Aurelius: “But further thou wilt observe this also as a general truth, if thou dost observe, that whatever is profitable to any man…”

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

There was in him nothing harsh, nor implacable, nor violent, nor, as one may say, anything carried to the sweating point; but he examined all things severally, as if he had abundance of time, and without confusion, in an orderly way…

But if there is a providence which allows itself to be propitiated, make thyself worthy of the help of the divinity.

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…