Retire into thyself. The rational principle which rules has this nature, that it is content with itself when it does what is just, and so secures tranquility.
In reading and writing, you cannot lay down rules until you have learnt to obey them. Much more so in life.
Thou sufferest justly: for thou choosest rather to become good to-morrow than to be good to-day.
The true joy of humankind is in doing that which is most proper to our nature; and the first property of people is to be kindly affected towards them that are of one kind with ourselves.
It is the act of a madman to pursue impossibilities .
Everything that happens either happens in such a way as you are formed by nature to bear it, or as you are not formed by nature to bear it.
You need to be prepared for firm decisions and action, without losing gentleness towards those who obstruct or abuse you. It’s as great a weakness to be angry with them as it is to abandon your plan of action and give up through fear.
He who eats my bread, does my will.
When you have done a good deed that another has had the benefit of, why do you need a third reward-as fools do-praise for having done well or looking for a favor in return.
It is not the weight of the future or the past that is pressing upon you, but ever that of the present alone. Even this burden, too, can be lessened if you confine it strictly to its own limits.
Remember that the sole life which a man can lose is that which he is living at the moment.
Death hangs over thee, While thou still live, while thou may, do good.
Look deeply. Don’t miss the inherent quality and value of everything.
Things can never touch the soul, but stand inert outside it, so that disquiet can arise only from fancies within.
The body of an actor can be either his best friend or his worst enemy.
Purge your mind of all aimless and idle thoughts, especially those that pry into the affairs of others or wish them ill.
Everything is in a state of metamorphosis. Thou thyself art in everlasting change and in corruption to correspond; so is the whole universe.
Be not unwilling in what thou doest, neither selfish nor unadvised nor obstinate; let not over-refinement deck out thy thought; be not wordy nor a busybody.
When we consider we are bound to be serviceable to mankind, and bear with their faults, we shall perceive there is a common tie of nature and relation between us.
A good disposition is invincible, if it be genuine.