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 when he had them not, he did not want them.
Marcus Aurelius records his observations on a person's balanced approach to material comforts and the gifts of fortune.
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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.
But to be strong enough both to bear the one and to be sober in the other is the mark of a man who has a perfect and invincible soul, such as he showed in the illness of Maximus.
What a power man has to do nothing except what God will approve, and to accept all that God may give him.
He was also easy in conversation, and he made himself agreeable without any offensive affectation.
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