Marcus Aurelius: “For all things soon pass away and become a mere tale, and complete oblivion soon buries them.”

Reflecting on all this, consider nothing to be great, except to act as thy nature leads thee, and to endure that which the common nature brings.

But intellect in a peculiar manner tends to that which is of the same kin, and combines with it, and the feeling for communion is not interrupted.

And how small a part of the whole substance; and how small a part of the universal soul; and on what a small clod of the whole earth thou creepest!

But if it is easy to set little value on all these things, turn to that which remains, which is to follow reason and God.