It takes more than just a good looking body. You’ve got to have the heart and soul to go with it.
If thy brother wrongs thee, remember not so much his wrong-doing, but more than ever that he is thy brother.
When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing?
The pleasure which we most rarely experience gives us greatest delight.
The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.
A soul that makes virtue its companion is like an over-flowing well, for it is clean and pellucid, sweet and wholesome, open to all, rich, blameless and indestructible.
If your heart is quite set upon a crown, make and put on one of roses, for it will make the prettier appearance.
Against specious appearances we must set clear convictions, bright and ready for use. When death appears as an evil, we ought immediately to remember that evils are things to be avoided, but death is inevitable.
No one who is in a state of fear or sorrow or tension is free, but whosoever is delivered from sorrows or fears or anxieties is at the same time delivered from servitude.
He who is not happy with little will never be happy with much.
Desire and happiness cannot live together.
Ask yourself, “How are my thoughts, words and deeds affecting my friends, my spouse, my neighbour, my child, my employer, my subordinates, my fellow citizens?”
Learn to distinguish what you can and can’t control. Within our control are our own opinions, aspirations, desires and the things that repel us. They are directly subject to our influence.
Survey and test a prospective action before undertaking it. Before you proceed, step back and look at the big picture, lest you act rashly on raw impulse.
What is a good person? One who achieves tranquillity by having formed the habit of asking on every occasion, “what is the right thing to do now?”
Don’t demand or expect that events happen as you would wish them do. Accept events as they actually happen. That way, peace is possible.
To a longer and worse life, a shorter and better is by all means to be preferred.
We all carry the seeds of greatness within us, but we need an image as a point of focus in order that they may sprout.
In trying to please other people, we find ourselves misdirected toward what lies outside our sphere of influence. In doing so, we lose our hold on our life’s purpose.
Try not to react merely in the moment. Pull back from the situation. Take a wider view. Compose yourself.