Marcus Aurelius: “There is nothing new: all things are both familiar and short-lived.”

A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.

Further, he was not fond of change nor unsteady, but he loved to stay in the same places, and to employ himself about the same things; and after his paroxysms of headache he came immediately fresh and vigorous to his usual occupations.

I observed, too, that no man could ever think that he was despised by Maximus, or ever venture to think himself a better man.

Further, I owe it to the gods that I was not hurried into any offence against any of them, though I had a disposition which, if opportunity had offered, might have led me to do something of this kind; but, through their favor, there never…