Make it your goal never to fail in your desires or experience things you would rather avoid; try never to err in impulse and repulsion; aim to be perfect also in the practice of attention and withholding judgment.
And the way to be free is to let go of anything that is not within your control.
Freedom, you see, is having events go in accordance with our will, never contrary to it.
Can we avoid people? How is that possible? And if we associate with them, can we change them? Who gives us that power?
Philosophers say that people are all guided by a single standard. When they assent to a thing, it is because they feel it must be true, when they dissent, it is because they feel something isn’t true, and when they suspend judgement, it is because they feel that the thing is unclear.
Destroy desire completely for the present. For if you desire anything which is not in our power, you must be unfortunate.
As long as you honour material things, direct your anger at yourself rather than the thief or adulterer.
The philosopher’s lecture room is a ‘hospital’: you ought not to walk out of it in a state of pleasure, but in pain; for you are not in good condition when you arrive.
There are two things that must be rooted out in human beings – arrogant opinion and mistrust. Arrogant opinion expects that there is nothing further needed, and mistrust assumes that under the torrent of circumstance there can be no happiness.
So what oppresses and scares us? It is our own thoughts, obviously.
When you feel burning desire for something that appears pleasureful, you are like a person under a spell. Instead of acting on impulse, take a step back – wait till the enchantment fades and you can see things as they are.
Behold the birth of tragedy: when idiots come face to face with the vicissitudes of life.
If you have assumed any character beyond your strength, you have both demeaned yourself ill in that and quitted one which you might have supported.
Freedom is not attained through the satisfaction of desires, but through the suppression of desires.
If someone in the street were entrusted with your body, you would be furious. Yet you entrust your mind to anyone around who happens to insult you, and allow it to be troubled and confused. Aren’t you ashamed of that?
Check your passions that you may not be punished by them.
Let whatever appears to be the best be to you an inviolable law. And if any instance of pain or pleasure, glory or disgrace, be set before you, remember that now is the combat, now the Olympiad comes on, nor can it be put off; and that by one failure and defeat honor may be lost or – won.
Ask not that events should happen as you will, but let your will be that events should happen that you will have peace.
Whenever externals are more important to you than your own integrity, then be prepared to serve them the remainder of your life.
I have a bad neighbour – bad, that is, for himself. For me, though, he is good: he exercises my powers of fairness and sociability.