From Claudius Maximus, in all things to endeavour to have power of myself, and in nothing to be carried about; to be cheerful and courageous in all sudden chances and accidents, as in sicknesses: to love mildness, and moderation, and gravity: and to do my business, whatsoever it be, thoroughly, and without querulousness.
For every action, ask: How does it affect me? Could I change my mind about it?
Nothing is so productive of greatness of mind as the ability to examine systematically and truthfully each thing we encounter in life, and to see these things in such a way as to comprehend the nature of the Cosmos.
No time for reading. For controlling your arrogance, yes. For overcoming pain and pleasure, yes. For outgrowing ambition, yes. For not feeling anger at stupid and unpleasant people – even for caring about them – for that, yes.
A man might have applied that to him, which is recorded of Socrates, that he knew how to want, and to enjoy those things, in the want whereof, most men show themselves weak; and in the fruition, intemperate: but to hold out firm and constant, and to keep within the compass of true moderation and sobriety in either estate, is proper to a man, who hath a perfect and invincible soul; such as he showed himself in the sickness of Maximus.
To change your experience, change your opinion. Stop telling yourself that you’re a victim and the pain goes away.
If it’s in your control, why do you do it? If it’s in someone else’s, then who are you blaming? Atoms? The gods? Stupid either way. Blame no one. Set people straight, if you can. If not, just repair the damage. And suppose you can’t do that either. Then where does blaming people get you? No pointless actions.
Dost thou wish to be praised by a man who curses himself thrice every hour? wouldst thou wish to please a man who does not please himself?
A man cannot any whither retire better than to his own soul;.
Use thyself even unto those things that thou doest at first despair of. For the left hand we see, which for the most part hieth idle because not used; yet doth it hold the bridle with more strength than the right, because it hath been used unto it.
Say this to yourself in the morning: Today I shall have to do with meddlers, with the ungrateful, with the insolent, with the crafty, with the envious and the selfish.
Look at who they really are, the people whose approval you long for, and what their minds are really like. Then you won’t blame the ones who make mistakes they can’t help, and you won’t feel a need for their approval. You will have seen the sources of both – their judgments and their actions.
How plain does it appear that there is not another condition of life so well suited for philosophising as this in which thou now happenest to be.
Death is relief from reaction to the senses, from the puppet strings of impulse, from the analytical mind, and from service to the flesh.
Let no one have the chance to accuse you, with any truth, of not being sincere or a good man. Make sure that anyone taking that view of you is a liar. This is wholly up to you – who is there to prevent you being good and sincere?
XXIX. As they that long after figs in winter when they cannot be had; so are they that long after children, before they be granted them. XXX.
So that we may say, that whatsoever is, is but as it were the seed of that which shall be.
The person who loves reputation supposes that his own good depends on the activities of others; the lover of pleasure finds his own good in being affected by his emotions. But the person who has Intelligence understands the good to be in his own actions.
Start praying like this and you’ll see. Not “some way to sleep with her” – but a way to stop wanting to. Not “some way to get rid of him” – but a way to stop trying. Not “some way to save my child” – but a way to lose your fear. Redirect your prayers like that, and watch what happens.
What makes for a worthy goal? Not to chase things that are popularly considered good, like pleasures and fame, but to live according to your nature, following reason and benefitting society.