Past and future have no power over you. Just the present – and even that can be minimized.
This is the mark of a perfect character – to pass through each day as though it were the last, without agitation, without torpor, and without pretense.
Look deep into the hearts of men, and see what delights and disgusts the wise.
Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in their station. Pray, shall not a man act like a man?
Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.
What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness.
Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.
You are a little soul carrying about a corpse, as Epictetus used to say.
If any man can convince me and bring home to me that which I do not think or act aright, gladly will I change; for I search after truth, by which man never yet was harmed. But he is harmed who abideth on still in his deception and ignorance.
If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.
The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.
I was once a fortunate man but at some point fortune abandoned me. But true good fortune is what you make for yourself. Good fortune: good character, good intentions, and good actions.
How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks.
Look within, for within is the wellspring of virtue, which will not cease flowing, if you cease not from digging.
Stop whatever you’re doing for a moment and ask yourself: Am I afraid of death because I won’t be able to do this anymore?
No man is happy who does not think himself so.
Because a thing seems difficult for you, do not think it impossible for anyone to accomplish.
All things of the body stream away like a river, all things of the mind are dreams and delusion; life is warfare, and a visit to a strange land; the only lasting fame is oblivion.
How ridiculous and how strange to be surprised at anything which happens in life.
Accustom yourself not to be disregarding of what someone else has to say: as far as possible enter into the mind of the speaker.